This movie is fast-moving and superficially entertaining, but despite an appealing cast and great photography, it doesn't offer much in the way of character, story, or insight into the reality it depicts. Like many viewers I watched it after digesting Romanzo Criminale (the TV series), Gomorra (the TV series), and Suburra: Blood on Rome. However, "Paranza dei Bambini" (original title) suffers from comparison with any of those excellent series.
Of course, as a standalone film, Paranza can't match those series for depth or scope, but I did expect a much harder look at the main characters and especially the consequences of their actions. Sadly, I was disappointed.
A 15-year-old boy named Nicola embarks on a life of crime so that he and his poor but hardworking mother can have nice things. Despite a few setbacks, he's amazingly successful in a very short span of time. The editing of the film leaves out all transitions, so you really have to stay on your toes in order to follow the rather implausible sequence of events. (For example, I was baffled by how quickly Nicola became a "frate" of the heir of the Striane gang, as well as how quickly the two of them fell out -- what made them such fast friends? Why couldn't they reconcile?)
Oddly enough, none of the audacious crimes Nicola commits seem to bite back at him very seriously until about 2 hours into the film, when somebody gets fatally shot. But that potentially dramatic scene is presented in a rush -- I had to rewind to be sure which character actually went down -- and the director purposely seemed to avoid evoking any pathos or sympathy.
And then, as many others have written, the movie just ends without any clear resolution. I felt cheated.
(Postscript: This movie is not about the Mafia. It's about the Comorra. Pay attention, guagliu -- the setting is Napoli, not Sicilia.)
Of course, as a standalone film, Paranza can't match those series for depth or scope, but I did expect a much harder look at the main characters and especially the consequences of their actions. Sadly, I was disappointed.
A 15-year-old boy named Nicola embarks on a life of crime so that he and his poor but hardworking mother can have nice things. Despite a few setbacks, he's amazingly successful in a very short span of time. The editing of the film leaves out all transitions, so you really have to stay on your toes in order to follow the rather implausible sequence of events. (For example, I was baffled by how quickly Nicola became a "frate" of the heir of the Striane gang, as well as how quickly the two of them fell out -- what made them such fast friends? Why couldn't they reconcile?)
Oddly enough, none of the audacious crimes Nicola commits seem to bite back at him very seriously until about 2 hours into the film, when somebody gets fatally shot. But that potentially dramatic scene is presented in a rush -- I had to rewind to be sure which character actually went down -- and the director purposely seemed to avoid evoking any pathos or sympathy.
And then, as many others have written, the movie just ends without any clear resolution. I felt cheated.
(Postscript: This movie is not about the Mafia. It's about the Comorra. Pay attention, guagliu -- the setting is Napoli, not Sicilia.)