Fortàpasc (Italy)

A week or so ago I attended seven of the eight films comprising the New Italian Cinema film festival. It's a program that's been shown in New York and San Francisco arriving in Seattle to play at SIFF Cinema. I took a chance and bought a pass. Only missed one - so that bet seemed to pay off at $40 for the 7 films.

Things started out with a screening of Fortàpasc. It follows the last four months in the life of a young journalist whose reporting on the Camorra resulted in his assassination. Based on a true story it was introduced by the director as a sad story, but not necessarily a sad movie. The movie almost forces you to compare it with Gomorrah though they really are very different films. It's not quite the sweeping vision that Gomorrah is, instead focusing on the one reporter's life which is just taking off when he's tragically murdered.  As based on true events slice of life biopic the film generally worked for me.

It's an interesting film and the director's description was accurate in that it follows the reporters zeal for life, love, and getting the story. Only towards the end does he start to understand how much danger he may actually be in.  Interestingly, much as we've seen on The Wire - the trouble tends to start when you follow the money.

The title is an Italianized version of "Fort Apache" which the city in the film is compared two a couple of times.  You're free to speculate whether that's a reference to the original or the version that came out in early 80's.  Either way it's probably a good description of the lawless environment.  I liked the film for the performances while I was watching it.  Not sure it's going to make a strong long term impression though.


Screening Notes:  As part of opening night there was also a very nice party in Seattle Center's Alki room (the future expanded home of the SIFF organization).  The spread included quite a few good pastries, some meats/cheeses/bread and assorted chocolates.  A surprising highlight was the appearance of Finamoré serving a cold and tasty limoncello from the Seattle based company.  Oh - and that I got in at all.  It wasn't clear if my pass included admission as I didn't really stop to ask I suppose technically I may have been crashing.