La corona spezzata

USC stands for United Sacred Crown, a criminal organization in Puglia, South Italy. This film talks about it. It is one of the very few films on the matter as I know, and certainly the one with the best cast. Several good points why you should see this film, but also some warnings: if you don't like wordy films don't watch it, because even though there is action, there's no much of it. The Broken Crown is more on the historical and psychological side. The story of the right hand man of the USC padrino who falls in love with a woman doctor is of course fictitious, but the historical reconstruction of USC genesis is true indeed. Film with a complicated plot needs a lot of attention to be understood. It's not a film you watch when you get home tired from work and want to enjoy, but if you miss something, the last part of the film, a very long flashback, helps you to understand it. I would have loved to enjoy a better know actor as the leading man even though Vittorio Boscolo isn't too bad for the role of Tano. I feel that in some part the film is a little bit too slow, I would have cut them. But probably the director chose not to do it cause they feature some somehow known German Actors. The overall editing is good as well as the acting. Very nice bad mafia faces in this film. Great the cinematography ! A good start for the indie director Ruben Maria Soriquez

Very good film with good Italian actors and fabulous location. The story is exciting and there's enough depths and pathos to even make you cry at the end, which brings quite a good surprise with its unexpected twist. The film is slow, not the typical action film. If you like mafia film I recommend this.

Interesting story, a good plot, good actors, nice cinematography mostly using available light, good editing even though it could have been a little faster. Vittorio Boscolo as the lead did a good job even though I don't think he was really fit for the role. The actor who plays Don Carmelo has a very interesting face and is a good actor even though in this film I believe he over acts a little bit. This one of the few films on the United Sacred Crown of Puglia region. As first fiction film or Soriquez this is a good start.

An interesting film that, unfortunately, represents a missed occasion to do something really relevant. Maybe the inexperience of the director (this is his first fiction work), certainly the fact that the lead actor seams unfit to play the role of Tano, and if protagonist doesn't perform or is unfit, the whole film fails. There are, however, good points: the good cinematography, the excellent camera work, an interesting story that also depicts rituals of the Pugliese Mafia.

I watch this Italian film yesterday on Amazon Prime Video. I enjoyed it. It' s a slow film, a slow burn that will reward you at the end if you have enough patience. There's some good action but it's substantially a crime-drama. Wonderful locations and good cinematography and sound.