Roberto Saviano, the author of the book, Gomorrah, and creator of Gomorrah the TV series is facing a new obstacle making a second season. The Mayor says, not in my town, not on my watch.
Antonio Poziello, mayor of Giugliano, the town in which the hit TV series was filmed in the first season has decided to deny filming in public locations, and he’s done it right when filming is set to begin in locations crucial to the story. But he’s not backing down.
“Giugliano isn’t Gomorra”, wrote Poziello in a long Facebook post. “I don’t like the series. It’s a matter of taste, of course. But I still say that in spite of its intent, it has a negative influence. It exalts the roles of bad guys, and influences mixed-up young people. Creating anti-heroes that become role models. In the way they talk, in the way they dress, and in their moral conduct. Gomorra shows a damaged society, but it doesn’t help us fix it. Just the opposite!”
Saviano’s rebuttal: “To deny the authorization to film is an authoritarian gesture and shifts his responsibility from politics to art…The “no” from the mayor comes from political blindness.”
Calling the action a denial of freedom of artistic expression, he continued, “Crime spreads not because of the TV show, but because of the failures of politicians.”
The TV adaptation of Roberto Saviano’s book and Matteo Garrone’s award-winning film is Italy’s most popular TV show ever and has been sold to the US. When it will be available here is unclear, but we’ve been watching the Italian DVDs (they have English subtitles) and it is wildly entertaining.
Naples’ major crime boss, Don Pietro Savastano orders his guys to kill a rival boss, and after a suicide mission to enemy headquarters produces more casualties than seem prudent, all hell breaks loose.
Vengeance, brutality, lawlessness plus the authenticity from Saviano’s expert technical advising combine to create great TV for anyone who loves crime shows, Mafia stories, or just Italy in general.
Gomorrah has all the appeal of shows like The Sopranos, but “Gomorrah is more realistic”, says journalist and author Beppe Severgnini. “The criminals aren’t glorified; there are no lovable monsters like Tony Soprano. Its story lines are fictional, but they draw on current events. With stunning camerawork, fast-paced tempos and well-written dialogue that rolls out in accurately rendered Neapolitan Italian, it is proof, if proof were needed, that Italians can turn out first-rate television.”
We’re calling this censorship and a mayor who has gone beyond the limits of his authority. What do you say?
I Love Italian Everything 