Mafia

Italian film based on a novel by Leonardo Sciascia, explores the mystery and corruption in a small Sicilian town. If you enjoy intellectual thrillers, this film is a must-watch!

Despite being from the distant year of 1968, "Il giorno della civetta" resonates surprisingly with the present day. Tackling themes like omertà and distrust in institutions, the film challenges us to reflect on social dynamics that unfortunately persist even today, over 50 years later in Italy. A timeless work that invites us to examine the complexities of society in a new light.

The screenplay and plot are masterfully executed, keeping you glued to the screen without a dull moment. The dialogues are convincing and well-crafted. The direction and editing, considering the production era, are impeccable. The soundtrack is fitting, but what strikes the most is the final message, incredibly true and relevant.

While I'm not particularly fond of very old films, and I'm usually quite demanding when it comes to giving a rating, it must be said that this film is very well-crafted.

Being the first of a series of expose' films directed by Damiano Damiani and starring Franco Nero, this was more sober than the rest - with few of the typical "Euro-Crime" trappings - even receiving some accolades when it emerged; it's really a police procedural, with the only action sequence occurring at the very beginning.

The film is also among the first to deal with the Mafia - though it's never mentioned by name - with the characters governed by their own sense of honor and Sicily's distinctive rustic feel lending vividness to the setting. As with the other Damiani/Nero films, the downbeat ending offers no easy answers.

Apart from a dynamic score by Giovanni Fusco, it features an above-average international cast - Claudia Cardinale (as the defamed wife of an eye-witness to murder, who has gone missing), Franco Nero (as the rugged young cop), Lee J. Cobb (as the 'boss'), Nehemiah Persoff (as one of his associates) and Serge Reggiani (as a stoolie); the hilarious contribution of Gaetano Cimarosa as the wisecracking hit-man is also noteworthy.

The first great thriller by director Damiano Damiani, followed by many remarkable films in the 70s, such as "Io ho paura" with Gian Maria Volonte and "Un uomo in ginocchio" with Giuliano Gemma. "Il giorno della civetta" has a marvelous cast: Franco Nero just risen to stardom with "Django" (1966), Claudia Cardinale can be seen here a year before "Once Upon a Time in the West", and veteran tough guy Lee J Cobb. Sciascia's story about the murdered boss of a building company fits Damiano's way to illustrate his view on society: too many people are looking for the easy way out and keep their mouths shut. Simple, direct, honest - few films have so much credibility. Still, for an understandable commercial reason, Mrs Cardinale's role became bigger than it was in the novel.

Italian films have always been the ebst of the best concerning the Sicilian Mafia, or even any Mafia in Italy; Camorra, Ndrangheta.... It brings something authentic, accurate, even more efficient and riveting than any US action flicks. Francesco Rosi, Damiano Damiani and Pasquale Squieteri were the masters on those topics. This one is one of the best examples of what I say. It s a fiction, but facts. It is not an action crime film, such as those Italian film industry made during the late sixties and especially the seventies: the famous poliziottescos, all violent, brutal, misogynist at the most, nothing to do with the films made by Damiani, Squieteri or Rosi. In those Poliziottescos, you have gunfights, car chases, tortures scenes galore till you get fed up. I prefer the Damiani style, more minimalist but true, showing informers, details on corruption, embezzlements, swindles. Acting absolutely flawless. Once more in his career Lee J Cobb, after ON THE WATER FRONT and PARTY GIRL, plays a mob boss.

For more years than I care to think about, I have strongly felt that anything shot/written by the venerable, hugely versatile Italian film-maker, Damiano Damiani is well worth any film fans attention; and as far as I'm concerned, his exemplary, compellingly acted, immaculately crafted crime thriller, 'Day of The Owl' is most certainly no exception to that rule. The uniquely refined entertainment quotient of, 'Il giorno della civetta' elevated by its dazzlingly stellar cast, featuring that implausibly charismatic icon, Franco Nero, the uncommonly beauteous, Claudia Cardinale, a barnstorming, Lee J. Cobb, and another fine performance by the singularly underappreciated character actor, Nehemiah Persoff.

It could be argued that, 'Il giorno della civetta' (1968) aka 'Day of The 'Owl' might also be regarded as one of the earliest examples of the gritty, soon to be ubiquitous, hyperbolically violent Italian police procedural, that would luridly devolve into the more overtly reactionary, action-orientated, Fiat-fragging, blood-spattered poliziotteschi genre which we fans know and love so dearly! As with many other thrilling, Damiani titles, his richly layered, elegantly nuanced Mise-en-scène focuses far more on dense, relatable character development, seamy political machinations, and spell-binding plotting, than tumultuous car chases, and skull-wreckingly vicious haymakers! (Aye!! That would be you, Maurizio Merli!) Even if one were not all that familiar with the more boisterous end of 70s Italian exploitation cinema, maestro Damiani's ceaselessly fascinating dissection of Mafia corruption should still prove to be a most edifying viewing experience!