Un uomo in ginocchio

this is a damiano damini so youll expect a certian level of social realism and it does not disappoint. its a damming film about the stranglwhold of the mafia in palermo where this is set. See it,you wont be disapponited,but you will not feel better about life. This is not fantasy godfather stuff but the real hopeless raw variety. In a funny way its a hym to humanity. Palermo looks really awful and down at heel. wonderful score out of 10 a nine.

Nino used to be a car thief and served to years in prison. Now he makes a living by selling coffee and lemonade at a little stall. By chance he gets drawn into a war between two rivaling (mafia) families and finds himself on a death list. He tries to resolve the misunderstanding while keeping his little business and his dignity.

This crime drama by Damiano Damiani is situated in a bleak, rainy, dirty Palermo with little hope for a small time ex-convict like Nino. The police is weak and Nino never even considers asking them for help. The small fight and cheat amongst themselves with the bosses giving orders without being seen.

The film is shot in an unostentatious style and narrated in a similar matter-of-factly kind of way. A very good film yet utterly pessimistic.