Silvio et les autres 1

This film shows the good and bad sides of the controversial Italian ex prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, and does it in a brilliant way. The mediterranean sunshine, the luxury, the ladies, are the real setting of a real story well worth watching.

SEEN THIS TWO-PARTER AS ONE MOVIE (AS WAS INTENDED FOR INTERNATIONAL RELEASE, I THINK)

This movie establishes a great, great premise. It's about a guy who wants to be recognized by the great Silvio Berlusconi so bad that he would probably be willing to suck some if he had to. He is not the most sympathetic person in the world and has questionable morals, but in the end he is probably only at fault because his mind and principles are set on the wrong goal. But it's not easy, because Berlusconi is an enigma, a man that is hard to reach. This larger than life character of Berlusconi is then slowly established from little word of mouth stories here and there that different characters share in conversations.

Well, after the first 45 minutes the protagonist (?) of the story completely disappears from the movie never to be seen again. And the rest of the film then follows Silvio Berlusconi who just sits at home and bickers with his wife. He's just some old guy. Then the movie ends.

There is also some sort of symbolism with a Jesus on the cross statue at the very end? So does this mean there is some religious meaning behind all this? Who knows.

Besides being mostly boring, the movie also doesn't provide much knowledge or character about the real life Silvio Berlusconi. So really, for me the movie fails both on the entertainment level as far as a good story goes, and then also on educational level.

On the bright side - the talent involved in the making shows.

I'd say give it a pass.

The number of hot topless partying women snorting coke skewed to the first reel. When I squirm in my seat since I have to figure out how my fiancee is enjoying the movie, I prefer even distribution of such erotic images. Defenders would say that all of the debaucheries was meant to set the tone for the life of Silvio Berlusconi, the media tycoon who after serving as Italy's prime minister is the longest-serving post-war head of government. I am no expert of Italian politics but this movie did not leave me feeling like I understand the Roman modern-day political world any more than I did last week.

Why? Because you can quibble with this and with that. But this is a first class film and it must not go unseen.

He might be a repugnant individual, but Berlusconi's life is also occasionally terrifying and sometimes sad. He is a dinosaur, unwilling to let go of the glamour and corruption that have become his legacy, a man pumped on viagra, desperate to cheat age and ultimately death - unwilling to accept there is a battle he cannot win. Whether it's possible to make a fascinating study of one so vacuous is moot. It's well made. Whether you care what happens to Berlusconi the 'man' is a whole other matter. But certainly this could be shown in schools around the country - as the study of a personality and life one should never aim to duplicate.