Before seeing a film I look at the credited writer. Nine times out of ten it tells me all I need to know. I didn't read the name of the writer before I sat to see this. Terrible mistake. But it was hot, an air conditioned room, a big TV screen with THX, a new Italian film with Gabriele Ferzetti (L'Avventura)and Luca Lionello, the splendid Judas of Gibson's "Passion of The Christ". Italy is going through a proverbial crisis, very few films get made. One would assume that the few that do are sure shots at the box office (comedies with Christian de Sica for instance) or films of quality. So how come a film of this catastrophic, moronic caliber can be made with a more than respectable cast, a director - Claudio Fragasso - with a sure hand and years of experience falling into this trap. The film is beyond bad because it aspires to something grander. It has the obscene audacity to attempt some social and political relevance. The script is laughable from beginning to end. In spite of the afore mentioned crisis, Italy has some phenomenal writers and top notch directors. What lacks is producers, real producers people with guts and taste and balls. They are all there like mamma's boys waiting for the Ministry to grant them some money. What about a bit of showmanship? Because, let's face it, who's going to pay the consequences of the failure of "Concorso di Colpa"? (translated it means "Concourse of Guilt" very apropos if you ask me)Who? Other, more deserving filmmakers, that's who. Nobody can tell me if this film got distribution, if it does, well that would be another mystery. Not to sound all gloom and doom, there is some light at the end of the Italian tunnel Marco Tullio Giordana's "Once you're born you can't hide anymore" Is a beautiful gem.
