The heart pounding Gomorra, directed by Matteo Garrone, plunges the audience into an unbelievably in depth and deep insight into the heart of organized crime in Italy. One of the most visible aspects of the life of organized crime was the difference among age groups involved in organized crime in Italy. The youngest life influenced by crime was that of Toto, portrayed by Salvatore Abruzzese. Also, Marco and Ciro, portrayed by both Marco Macor and Ciro Petrone respectively, are two teens that become so enveloped in the mob that they lose their lives. Finally, Roberto, played by Carmine Paternoster, has to quit his job in order to avoid the devastating destructive force of the mob. Garrone’s Gomorra is a truly remarkable piece of cinematic history that defines the differences of age groups within the Italian mob with great detail.
A thirteen year old boy by the name of Toto becomes entangled in a gang that essentially forces him to walk the line between boy and man. Firstly, Toto is constantly trying to prove himself a man, as all young boys across all cultures do. Also, his workings with the gang involve him with the dealing of drugs along with the use of weapons that his mother says was the life of his father, and she wouldn’t let him follow in that path. Finally, although he greatly desired to be treated like a man and part of the gang, when the much older gang members asked him to kill Maria out of revenge, he is hesitant to complete the very act that will prove him worthy of manhood and the gang. Garrone allows the audience to see the terrifying effect the mob has on the life of even the youngest of adolescence.
Garrone’s cinematic masterpiece also follows two teens, Marco and Ciro, as they attempt to make their mark on the territory already claimed by the Camorra. They are desperate to prove that they are badasses and can do whatever they want whenever they want, without consequences. This brings them to the attention of the Camorra, whom has a tight grip on organized crime in Italy. They become extremely annoyed by the two’s inexperience, immaturity and lack of respect with regards to the way they act, holding up places where people are all over and their theft of the Camorra’s weapons. Although they speak of the teens’ immaturity and inexperience, instead of showing them the ropes or giving them a chance to prove themselves, the Camorra wipes them out. For people who profess to have great experience and maturity when considering “business”, they completely ignore the fact that the teens are inexperienced due to the fact that they are just starting out in the “business.”
Roberto is a recent graduate of college who works in a toxic waste management organization that is backed by the mob. His boss does whatever he can to ensure that the job is complete and money continues to flow. This includes opening up more waste sites for dumping regardless of its harmless effects on those living around the sites. The choices of his boss eventually lead to his quitting when he decides that he has had enough of the dumping. A mere college graduate decides to take the course of his life back into his own hands as he walks away from his boss. Although it is difficult for him to do so, Roberto’s attempt to lead an honest and strait path brings him to abandon the job that made him who he was. The organized crime even affects those attempting to better themselves with a higher education, and corrupts lives of all ages.
Garrone’s Gomorra is a perfect visual account of the mob’s ability to infect all ages of life. It takes over the lives of children, as seen in Toto’s struggle with maturity as he is forced to lure his friend’s mother to her death. Also, it is apparent in the lives of teens as Marco and Ciro attempt to make quick cash as they try to immerse themselves in the lifestyles of the mob. Finally, it is evident in young adult’s lives through Roberto’s challenge to take hold of his life and walk a path different from that of the life of crime. Gomorra, although it may be dark, beautifully reveals the affects of the mob against different age groups making it an amazing example of narrative across culture.
A thirteen year old boy by the name of Toto becomes entangled in a gang that essentially forces him to walk the line between boy and man. Firstly, Toto is constantly trying to prove himself a man, as all young boys across all cultures do. Also, his workings with the gang involve him with the dealing of drugs along with the use of weapons that his mother says was the life of his father, and she wouldn’t let him follow in that path. Finally, although he greatly desired to be treated like a man and part of the gang, when the much older gang members asked him to kill Maria out of revenge, he is hesitant to complete the very act that will prove him worthy of manhood and the gang. Garrone allows the audience to see the terrifying effect the mob has on the life of even the youngest of adolescence.
Garrone’s cinematic masterpiece also follows two teens, Marco and Ciro, as they attempt to make their mark on the territory already claimed by the Camorra. They are desperate to prove that they are badasses and can do whatever they want whenever they want, without consequences. This brings them to the attention of the Camorra, whom has a tight grip on organized crime in Italy. They become extremely annoyed by the two’s inexperience, immaturity and lack of respect with regards to the way they act, holding up places where people are all over and their theft of the Camorra’s weapons. Although they speak of the teens’ immaturity and inexperience, instead of showing them the ropes or giving them a chance to prove themselves, the Camorra wipes them out. For people who profess to have great experience and maturity when considering “business”, they completely ignore the fact that the teens are inexperienced due to the fact that they are just starting out in the “business.”
Roberto is a recent graduate of college who works in a toxic waste management organization that is backed by the mob. His boss does whatever he can to ensure that the job is complete and money continues to flow. This includes opening up more waste sites for dumping regardless of its harmless effects on those living around the sites. The choices of his boss eventually lead to his quitting when he decides that he has had enough of the dumping. A mere college graduate decides to take the course of his life back into his own hands as he walks away from his boss. Although it is difficult for him to do so, Roberto’s attempt to lead an honest and strait path brings him to abandon the job that made him who he was. The organized crime even affects those attempting to better themselves with a higher education, and corrupts lives of all ages.
Garrone’s Gomorra is a perfect visual account of the mob’s ability to infect all ages of life. It takes over the lives of children, as seen in Toto’s struggle with maturity as he is forced to lure his friend’s mother to her death. Also, it is apparent in the lives of teens as Marco and Ciro attempt to make quick cash as they try to immerse themselves in the lifestyles of the mob. Finally, it is evident in young adult’s lives through Roberto’s challenge to take hold of his life and walk a path different from that of the life of crime. Gomorra, although it may be dark, beautifully reveals the affects of the mob against different age groups making it an amazing example of narrative across culture.
Works Cited
"Gomorra (2008)." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 11 Mar. 2010.
Gomorra. Dir. Matteo Garrone. Perf. Salvatore Abruzzese, Marco Macor, Ciro Petrone, and Carmine Paternoster. 2008. DVD.
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