Is Massimiliano Bruno’s 2012 Viva L’Italia meant to be a death knoll or a wake up call for the Italian government? Whichever he’s intended, this movie is no mere comedy; Bruno’s serious. Jokes and all, the subject matter of Viva L’Italia is no laughing matter, there’s no mistaking that.
It centers around the Spagnolo family, with Michele, a politician and the patriarch, a master of nepotism who helps one inept son be successful in business, a daughter with a lisp get acting jobs, and another son. a doctor, get a good position in a hospital. The theme of his upcoming campaign is “family”, and meanwhile he’s cheating on his wife and has a terrible relationship with his kids.
He’s saved by a stroke, at least I think it was a stroke, and the dementia that follows, rendering him unable to tell a lie and therefore unable to run for office. It’s a disaster for his wife, who finally hears the truth about her marriage, and the kids, who have been relying on the fact that no one will cross their dad, but the Honorable Spagnolo must have done something right; somehow everyone finds a little inner strength and make things right.
Bruno leaves no corrupt stone unturned, showing us how the economy, the arts, and the medical field are all made laughable by dishonesty and bribes. If Bruno sees hope that the Italian government can be mended and someday its constitution will be more than just a funny piece of “science fiction”, I can’t tell. It’s a little predictable and even a little cornball, but it’s an Italian comedy and I don’t always get Italian comedy. Overall it’s an interesting concept and…not bad. With better than average performances from Michele Placido and Ambra Angiolini and with very good-looking Raoul Bova to look at for an hour and a half, it’s not bad at all.
Director: Massimiliano Bruno
Writers: Massimiliano Bruno, Edoardo Maria Falcone
Stars: Raoul Bova, Ambra Angiolini, Michele Placido, Alessandro Gassman
I Love Italian Everything 