One of the first associations with Italy was, of course, its famous mafia. They talk about her, write about her, make films about her. Her image varies: from the "classic" mafiosi on expensive cars, in classic suits and hats, with weapons in their hands, to the owners of an unattractive, frankly "criminal" appearance, and the problems that arise in front of the "family" are becoming more and more modern, however while retaining some “typicality” for any organized crime. Interest in the Italian mafia and the modern Italians themselves is not alien. Among the contemporary creations of writers and directors, the audience prefers and leaves the most numerous reviews about the series "Gomorrah" (the release date of the first season is 2014), which has been broadcast for the fourth year. What attracts viewers in it and how highly do professional observers rate it?
Short description of the series
"Gomorrah" is the new creation of the director of "Crime Novel" Stefano Sollima, based on the novel of the same name by Roberto Saviano and the full-length film Matteo Garrone. Naples became the filming location, where the plot takes place the action, as well as its surroundings, some of the scenes were shot in Barcelona, Milan and Ferrara. However, you can’t wait for popular tourist species - only the outskirts, dark and dirty nooks and crannies, smelling of fish and damp. In each of the four seasons of the series about ten episodes, lasting 50 minutes. The name refers to the name of the Italian mafia, "camorra", and also beats the biblical "city of sinners", Gomorrah. Both professional reviews of the TV series "Gomorrah" and audience ratings are quite high. The quality of shooting and the realism of what is happening is even noted by critics of popular English-language publications.
The main plot
The series "Gomorrah" is about the "family", a mafia group based in Naples and primarily engaged in the sale of narcotic substances. Law enforcement authorities bypass the area in which the mafiosi have settled, diligently pretending that everything is in order, and local residents can only come to terms with such a neighborhood, extremely uncomfortable, and sometimes frankly dangerous, not promising anything good. At the moment, the series "Gomorrah" season 4 is on the air. The TV screen division of territory and spheres of influence between Neapolitan criminal groups began in 2014 and has been going on for five years now.
Actors and roles
The series "Gomorrah" is replete with colorful characters played by professional Italian actors. Among the many heroes, a number of main characters can be distinguished. The cast of the Gomorrah series receives mostly positive reviews. At the same time, the selection of performers meets a positive reaction from the viewer who is tired of the “charming scoundrels” on the screen.
- Pietro Savastano, played by Fortunato Cherlino, head of the “family”, godfather, head of one of the most influential clans of Camorra. A person who prefers to solve problems by force, not alien to rigidity and even cruelty, if such a need arises. At the same time, he attaches great importance to the family, although he builds relations with his own heir with great difficulty, considering him too weak and unable to take his place at the head of the clan.
- Ciro di Marzio (Marco d'Amore), nicknamed "Highlander" or "Immortal", the right hand of Savastano Sr., an executive and confident person who is trusted by the most responsible and sometimes very bloody cases. Like his boss, he loves his family. At the same time, despite all respect for Pietro, he is well aware of his shortcomings and at some point begins a hidden war against Savastano, hoping to take his place at the head of the clan, competing for a place in the hierarchy with the son of his immediate superior.
- Jenny Savastano, the heir to the godfather, is completely unprepared to lead the "family", but he has no choice. However, after the assignment in Honduras, the guy’s worldview and character undergoes significant changes, and he enters into the struggle for power in the clan and in the city.
- Imma Savastano, wife of Pietro and mother of Jenny. A woman of twenty years supported camorra, getting acquainted with the official and real life of the family. Tired of the role of the "beautiful wife", she wants to take her place in the hierarchy of the clan and is able to keep the whole "family" under control.
Season One: Family Matters
The action takes place in Naples. Don Pietro is trying to raise from his son Jenny a worthy successor to his work, but so far has not succeeded too much in this. As a result of a series of events, Savast Sr. is in prison, and his son is in the hospital, and a traitor is wound up in the clan. In addition, in the prison where the head of the clan sits, the boss changes, with whom the mafiosi do not agree, and his long absence means the loss of influence in the "family". At this time, unexpectedly for all, Imma Savastano, the wife of the "godfather", takes control of the situation, turning out to be an amazingly tough and capable leader. Meanwhile, the confrontation between Savastano's heir, Jenny, and his right hand, Ciro, only flares up. Spectators and critics left extremely positive reviews about the series "Gomorrah", or rather, about his first season.
Second season: confrontation
The second season of the series "Gomorrah" (the creators of the genre is defined as a "criminal television series") is dedicated to the confrontation between the mafia clans led by Pietro Savastano, now living outside the country, and Salvatore Conte. Meanwhile, one of the former clan fighters and Savastano's former right hand, Ciro di Marzio, together with Conte, hopes to survive the former boss from Italy and ruin his empire, acting through his son.
Third season: the clan is growing
The clan is growing and gaining strength - the situation in the city is such that young people simply have nowhere else to go. The constant influx of newcomers, on the one hand, contributes to the strengthening of the "family", and on the other, it causes some discontent among the older generation. However, internal quarrels are not all Savastano's problems. The number of external enemies of the Neapolitan mafiosi is only growing, forcing the young Jenny Savastano to gain experience in managing a criminal group in the literal sense of "in practice."
Fourth season: adventure does not end
Contrary to fears, the series "Gomorrah" was favorably received by viewers and critics. The adventures and misadventures of the heroes do not end, and that is why the new series of the series, which tells about the struggle for power in Italian Naples, began to go on the air in the second half of spring 2019 (the season is not over on 05/10/2019). At the same time, the extension of the season was officially announced, and the current one may become the longest.
The opinion of critics
Critics of the authoritative English-language publication The Guardian note the "sinister plausibility" of the creation of the Italians, ironically comparing the place of filming, the abandoned residential complex Vele di Scampia with giant dirty sneakers abandoned in the middle of an abandoned construction site. The Variety publication notes strong directing and excellent camera work, which allows you to show the dark side of Neapolitan life in all its glory, without undue sentimentality. "The series, with almost clinical precision in a billion repulsive details, dissects the tumor, which comorra is for Italy," said Giovanni Vimercati. In general, many observers pay attention to the "naturalness" of the material shot, the lack of romanticism of what is happening, which is usually the movie about the Italian mafia.
They also note the realism of the main character, Ciro, appreciating his aversion to reflection, as opposed to the negative movie heroes who always find time to think about the high. Therefore, observers hope that in the 4th season of the series “Gomorrah” “pretty monsters” will not appear, creating an unrealistic perception of what is happening on the screen for the audience. Critics have noted a pleasant mixture of modernity and old-fashionedness, creating something that invariably delights viewers. One of the critics also calls "Gomorrah" an antidote for those who are inclined to idealize Italy, as the series shows the most unsightly corners of this beautiful country.
Public reaction
The series also makes a lasting impression on the audience. Briefly, the general opinion of those who watched can be expressed as: "The best series about the mafia, but now it's scary to go to Naples." They note that what is happening on the screen is very dynamic and more reminiscent of a report, "as if you watch crime chronicles around the clock." The audience is somewhat scared by the realism of rigidity, but still they do not come off the screen.
It seems strange to some that the characters on the screen calmly kill people, regardless of their age and gender, and then in church they pray for the health and well-being of their family. The inconsistency of the serial Naples, where you are either a member of the "family", or you pay the mafia, or you are the victim of the mafia, is a curiosity for many. As well as the impression emerging after watching, that Neapolitan children are born with a gun in their hands.
However, among laudatory reviews there are also negative ones. According to some viewers, the creators of "Gomorrah" outwitted themselves and became entangled in a tangle of plot twists. Some of those who watched this television series also noted that the second season could have ended the narrative, because the third, in their opinion, looks frankly weak against the background of the first two.
In addition, there is another point that ordinary viewers pay attention to, but at the same time critics miss it for some reason. This is the musical component of Gomorrah. The soundtrack for the series was written by a composer known on the Web as Mokadelic.
Will there be a sequel?
At the moment, work continues on the fourth season of “Gomorrah”, so it's too early to talk about the continuation of the series. The life of the mafia clan continues, but, as always, when it comes to successful series, many viewers worry that the creators of the TV show will not be able to stop in time and continue to "suck out new lines" from their fingers, which will negatively affect the quality of the series they love.
However, time will show how justified the fears of the fans are, and whether the Italians will repeat the mistakes of their foreign colleagues. But, to the audience’s happiness, so far they manage to keep the bar high enough, even despite some “subsidence” of the plot, which is inevitable for any series that has appeared in recent seasons.