Figli delle Stelle/Unlikely Revolutionaries (2010, Lucio
Pelligrini)
Given the political climate in Italy right, what with the
Berlusconi government constantly receiving the brunt of criticism for its rampant
corruption with non-other than Berlusconi himself at the center of attention
for all the wrong reasons, the fact that a director would choose to create a
film about a gang of local newbie criminals who kidnap a an Italian politician
and hold in for ransom may come as a surprise. Politics is an especially
ferocious, passionate and controversial sport in Italy, making the choice to
film Figli delle Stelle may be seen
as a bold one. However, there are a number of significant aspects to the film that
can help sway any negative opinion, namely that is sold as a comedy, therefore
proposing a more light-hearted view on the political existing political
tension. Then again, some will surely decry that politics and kidnapping are no
laughing matter, so who knows.
Figli delle Stelle’s setup
is fast paced, wasting little time in exposition. Right from the outset, it is
learned that at a loading dock, a colleague of Toni (Fabio Volo) has perished
in an accident. Moments later the audience is transported to a live talk show
in which the Minister responsible for labour shows few signs of sympathy nor
any willingness to adapt laws to better suit employee safety. This proves to be
the final straw for a small band of hopeful political terrorist: Pepe
(Pierfrancesco Favino), Bauer (Giuseppe Battiston) and apparent leader Ramon
(Paolo Sassanelli) who recruit poor Toni and make an attempt to kidnap the
hated minister with the intent of holding him for ransom to pay the widow of
Toni’s deceased colleague. Problem number one arises when, in the frantic
attack on the bathing sauna where the Minister is relaxing, they grab hold of
the wrong person! It turns out they have captured a much lower level politician
named Stelle (Giorgio Tirabassi). All there other problems stem from the fact
that they might not actually know what they are doing...
This is the type of movie for which if the characters do not
resonate with the audience, if the viewer cannot find any reasons to follow
them around and like tem, then everything else falters. After all, these chaps
have committed a serious crime and are causing some people significant stress. Notwithstanding
the fact that the stress factor is not dealt with at all (where is this man’s
wife and what must she be living through now?) Director Pelligrini and his
solid cast do succeed in creating individuals that are sufficiently engaging to
carry the story. These are people who hold strong political and societal
ideals. They more equality for the people, are turned off by the flagrant
corruption that stinks up the legislative and executive branches of government.
The time for debating has ended for it is now the moment to actively fight back
at the system. Such ingredients would not normally be ripe for comedy, yet
Pelligrini makes it very clear that these people are quite real and down to
earth when the topic is not what it needs to be done next with the unfortunate
captive. Pepe, unmarried, lives with his sweet if sometimes overbearing mother
and aloof uncle. Ramon, a long time criminal, dreams of reunite with his long
lost son. Bauer, the most politically radical of the group, drives his kids to
school every morning. It is a Catholic school (his wife arrived at that
decision, no him), compelling Bauer to scold the nun who greets his two
children at the entrance gate each morning. There also Marilù (Claudia Pandolfi),
a woman who works on the television show seen at the beginning who inadvertently
becomes involved in the sloppy scheme. Her history with Ramon means that she,
despite her reservations, becomes emotionally involved with the group.
On face value, those elements do not scream
three-dimensionality, however when one takes into consideration the acting
talent of the cast and the excellent performances they put on, then each of
these characters grows in stature. Arguing that the individuals are remarkably well
realized would, I fear, be overselling the film, but there is little doubt
that, if we are merely hoping to tag along with engaging characters, then the
cast does a tremendous job. Pierfrancesco Favino as Pepe is perhaps the
standout, for his character arc goes the deepest. The resentment he displays
towards to political class at the beginning is unforgiving, yet upon actually
learning a few things about Stella, their captive, his attitudinal weaknesses
morph somewhat, especially when it is discovered that Stella was fighting to
have a law passed that would permit the experimentation of a new drug to fight
cancer, which Pepe’s mother suffers from. Favino gives a lively performance,
punctuating his frustrations and finicky attitude with the right amount energy,
never edging into dark territory. As he states himself at one point, he is a
very ‘emotional man.’ Claudia Pandolfi as Marilù and Giuseppe Battiston as
Bauer are equally stellar in their respective roles. Pandolfi lends her
character with a wide-eyed, stunned innocence in the early goings (she
originally had nothing to do with the plan despite knowing Ramon very well) and
eventually becomes surprisingly good at playing the game of cover up.
Battiston, playing the light version of a political radical, is hysterical almost
every time he opens his mouth.
Figli delle Stelle plays
things straightforwardly enough to be an engaging crowd pleaser, although not
much more than that. The crowd I saw the film with ate up everything like gooey
black bottom cupcakes. Every comedic moment was welcomed with uproarious laughter,
and several of the moments that aimed for emotional reactions immediately received
them from the audience. As for myself, it is difficult for me to be head over
heels enthusiastic about Figli delle
Stelle if only because it is exactly the sort of movie when one expect. We
have seen this sort of movie before, where a serious topic is given a light
natured twist for comedic purposes. There are a few little details here and
there that are played differently, like the fact that the kidnappers and victim
never become too close to one another as to become friends, something that
might have been expected from any number of different directors. An astute viewer who has seen films of this
nature before can predict some of the story elements that will happen, but
director Lucio Pelligrini does reserve some pleasant surprises, in particular near
the end. Without specifically revealing how the story turns out, I was
impressed with how Pelligrini chose not to end the film on a note that was
overly positive. Call it a bittersweet ending if you will.
The one thought that could not escape my head as I walked
out of the theatre was how easily this could be remade into an American
picture. The work is already half done Figli
delle Stelle received backing from Warner Bros studio. Honestly though,
switch the cast from Italians to Hollywood stars, change the locations from and
Rome to Washington and the Italian countryside side near the Alps to, say, the
Colorado Rockies and you’re done. That is not an argument attempting to
belittle the film for it is quite entertaining, only that it does have a very familiar,
Hollywood-esque tone to it. Nonetheless, it can be recommended to anybody in
the mood for a solid comedy.
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