He is a man of many nicknames but you only have to remember one—“Il Divo.”
Il Divo, a new film by writer and director Paolo Sorrentino, is a visually stunning and thought-provoking story about the life of former Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti. Sorrentino sat down last week to discuss the politics and misdeeds of this famous figure.
The film follows Andreotti from his seventh term as prime minister to his bid for the Italian presidency to allegations of political corruption. Andreotti is brilliantly portrayed by Toni Servillo, who some may remember as a corrupt waste manager in Matteo Garrone’s Gomorra. While Servillo does not resemble Andreotti in real life, the makeup used for the film and his personal command of the character transform him into a look-alike of the eccentric politician.
Andreotti is a fascinating political figure, but, as Sorrentino said, “He is very interesting from a psychological point of view, as a person. For me it’s very interesting—he loves the power for the power and not for other purposes.” This film in particular highlights Andreotti’s neurotic tendencies as his power vacillates in Italy during the early 1990s. In one scene, Andreotti is unable to sleep and paces the hallway of his home until his legs are sore and tired.
But Il Divo is not a conventional biopic. “Andreotti’s a very popular figure in Italy, and so he’s a sort of a pop icon. And so I decided to do, to make, a sort of a pop film about a man that’s very far from the pop but at the same time he’s [a] pop icon,” Sorrentino said. This “pop film” includes bold red graphics that introduce each character as well as an amazing assortment of music—from classical to rock—that surprisingly complements Andreotti’s story. “The basic idea of the film was to do a sort of an opera-rock,” Sorrentino joked.
The film is fast-paced and exciting, and Sorrentino’s interpretation of Andreotti is mesmerizing. While Sorrentino correctly states that “the mechanisms of the power” portrayed in the film are similar everywhere, it is definitely helpful to know a little bit about Andreotti and his political connections prior to seeing the film. But this should not be a deterrent because it is still entertaining, fun and, intelligent.
When asked what the most enjoyable part of making this film was, Sorrentino replied, “For me, the part where the people can laugh, I prefer.” And even though this film touches on serious issues, there are certainly a lot of opportunities to laugh.
Il Divo will be playing at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas (Broadway between 62nd and 61st streets) throughout the week. Tickets are $11.
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