A spin-off movie for the hit crime series Gomorrah, The Immortal follows the activities of Ciro Di Marzo (Marco D’Amore) just after the show’s third season and delves into the character’s past. Shortly after miraculously surviving what should have been a fatal shot to his heart, Ciro finds himself in the service of Don Aniello (Nello Mascia), a high-ranking member of the Neapolitan Confederacy. The Don sends Ciro to Latvia to negotiate terms of cocaine sales with the Russian mob.
Things go wrong quickly; Ciro’s Russian guides are murdered in a strategic car crash and he is kidnapped by a local Latvian nationalist crime syndicate. They give him an ultimatum: Betray the Russians and Don Aniello and bring us the cocaine or die. He then meets Don Aniello’s local contact, Bruno (Salvatore D'Onofrio). Bruno is the same man who practically raised the orphan Ciro, teaching him and other orphaned children all types of illicit skills to make money in the Italian underworld while using them for their labor and ability to distract or evade the police. From there, the action of the movie is punctuated by glimpses into Ciro’s childhood. In the end, the film resolves itself well and provides an excellent launching pad for Gomorrah’s fourth season.
While I absolutely enjoyed this movie and think it an excellent addition to the Gomorrah storyline, I did find it much cornier than the rest of the series. There are several moments that, while entertaining, didn’t fit the more serious and realistic aesthetic of Gomorrah. Several moments seemed snatched from old James Bond films. That is my strongest complaint.
The focus on the character of Ciro Di Marzo was a very strong point for this movie. A good look into his past makes many of his actions in the show make more sense and show his long-standing relationship with gang life. If you already have the previous three seasons of Gomorrah on your library shelves, this movie is a must-have. While as a stand-alone Crime film viewers may be a little confused, The Immortal is an excellent movie and comes highly recommended.
What type of film collection would this title be suitable for?
The Immortal is a perfect addition to crime drama library shelves.
What type of library programming could use this title?
The violence and brutality in this film make it a poor choice for programming in general, though it would make a good addition to a series of late-night crime film showings.
What patrons would be interested in this film?
People who loved Breaking Bad and The Sopranos will very much enjoy The Immortal and Gomorrah.