Il divo (film)

Il divo (, "The Celebrity" or more literally "The Divine", from Latin "divus," "god") is a 2008 Italian biographical drama film directed by Paolo Sorrentino. It is based on the figure of former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti. It competed at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008, where it was awarded the Jury Prize. The film also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and was nominated for the Oscar for Best Makeup at the 82nd Academy Awards in 2010.
Synopsis.
The film presents the story of Giulio Andreotti, a seven-time Prime Minister of Italy notorious for his alleged ties to the Mafia. The narration covers Andreotti's seventh election in 1992, his failed bid for the presidency of the Italian Republic, the bribe scandal "Tangentopoli" and his trial in 1995.
As the film opens, Giulio Andreotti gives an inner monologue observing how he has managed to survive his tumultuous political career while his various detractors have died. A montage shows the murders of various people connected to Andreotti, including journalist Mino Pecorelli, Carabinieri general Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, bankers Michele Sindona and Roberto Calvi, and former Prime Minister Aldo Moro.
Soundtrack.
The film score for "Il Divo" was composed by Teho Teardo in 2008 and released on compact disc by Universal in Italy. The soundtrack has not been released locally in North America or the United Kingdom and is only available by import.
Track listing.
The film features also:
Themes.
Andreotti's win as an incumbent Prime Minister reveals the theme of "particracy" ("partitocrazia", or "rule by parties") in Italian politics, the rule of Italian politics being strongly influenced by a single dominant group of players who govern independent of the will of the voters. A new trend of populism rose in the politics of many European countries during the late 20th century, resulting in "a new breed of radical right-wing parties and movements" which gain majority favor through "charismatic leadership" and an appeal to "popular anxieties prejudices and resentments".
In the movie, Andreotti served as Prime Minister multiple terms; some argue that he and many other political actors in Italy utilize the so-called "soft populism", which employs outlets, such as media, to appeal to the popular masses. However, Andreotti does not seem to emphasize any specific policies nor even campaign.
Through the portrayal of Andreotti, the movie displays how political actors are able to maintain their position and power with little to no explanation as to how they did so. Also, the inability to completely distinguish whether Andreotti was or was not affiliated with the Mafia murders conveys the lack of clarity in the mechanics of Italy's government. Andreotti's incumbency reveals the pentapartito, which consisted of five parties ranging from centre-right to centre-left. This coalition formed to prevent a left majority and was able to secure a majority by strategic methods of give and take. By maintaining this system of taking turns, a "systematic corruption" formed where parties were no longer driven by the masses, but by their alignments, resulting in "exchanging resources".
Critical reception.
"Il Divo" received mostly positive reviews from critics. "Il divo" has an approval rating of 92% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 50 reviews, and an average rating of 7.51/10. The website's critical consensus states, "While the web of corruption in this Italian political thriller can be hard for a non-native to follow, the visuals and the intrigue are compelling and thrilling in equal measure". It also has a score of 81 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Peter Brunette of "The Hollywood Reporter" praised the movie, pointing out the capacity of entertaining, the brilliant acting and the quality of the soundtrack. He noted that the movie will probably not have a great success outside Italy. The same elements emerged from the review of Jay Weissberg from "Variety", who defined the movie "a masterpiece" that "will become a touchstone for years to come". Stephen Holden of "The New York Times", while acknowledging that "the shadowy relationships among politicians, the Mafia and the Vatican are difficult to decipher" to the American audience as most of the real-life characters are little known outside Italy, describes the filmmaking as "a tour de force of indelibly flashy imagery" and ranks the film "alongside the best of Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola".
Andreotti himself walked out of the movie and dismissed the film, stating that it was "too much" and that he would be, in the end, judged "on his record". Massimo Franco, a journalist and biographer of Andreotti, related that upon seeing the film "he was angry, calling it scurrilous." However, a few days later, Franco wrote that Andreotti joked cynically: "I'm happy for the producer. And I'd be even happier if I had a share of the takings."
Accolades.
Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano were nominated for Best Achievement in Makeup for the 82nd Academy Awards. The film was nominated for the Grand Prix of the Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics.