La corona spezzata

This is the first feature film of director Ruben Maria Soriquez, as far as I know. Well: a more than promising debut. I had the pleasure of watching it in Rome where I was spending my vacation, November last year.

The picture is a classic Italian mafia movie, with scenes typical of the genre: killings during lunch when you least expected it, people "disappeared" into the wells of Southern Italy. However, unlike many other movies of this genre, this one deals with Apulian mafia (called Sacra Corona Unita) of which existence I wasn't aware and I am sure the world knows little about. Evocative and interesting reconstructions of the rites of affiliation.

It's the story of the right arm of a boss and how his life changes when... and the final is terrific. The action progresses in crescendo, the last 20 minutes are quite exciting and make you forget any shortfall in the rhythm. The cut is excellent.

There are quite a few talented actors, especially Andrea Roncato performing the police commissioner and the absolute novice actor Nicola Pernisco giving life to a veracious Don Nicola. A real treat is the scene with Tony Sperandeo: the Italian actor for excellence when it comes to mafia movies. To watch.

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

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.

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.