EVERYONE HAS A BREAKING POINT.
In a Rome suburb, a mild-mannered dog groomer (Marcello Fonte) sells cocaine on the side, but his connection to an abusive former boxer (Edoardo Pesce) is about to get worse. The director of Gomorrah (2008) returns to a world of gangsters, depicting the damage they do to people who are merely trying to get by and earn a living. It’s a straightforward but far from predictable story where we wonder if, how and when the meek Marcello will get his revenge. Down-to-earth, with a nice feel for the neighborhood and its people, inspired by real-life events. Fonte, in his breakthrough role, gives a perfect performance.
2018-Italy. 103 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Paolo Del Brocco, Matteo Garrone, Jean Labadie, Jeremy Thomas. Directed by Matteo Garrone. Screenplay: Ugo Chiti, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso. Costume Design: Massimo Cantini Parrini. Cast: Marcello Fonte (Marcello), Edoardo Pesce (Simone), Alida Baldari Calabria (Alida), Nunzia Schiano, Adamo Dionisi.
Trivia: Roberto Benigni was reportedly considered for the lead.
Cannes: Best Actor (Fonte). European Film Awards: Best Actor (Fonte), Costume Designer, Hair & Makeup Artist.
Last word: “It was a tragic coincidence. [Fonte] comes from a poor family in Calabria. When we met him he was the guardian of a squat. There was a theatre group of ex-prisoners rehearsing there and my casting director went to watch them perform because we were looking for some tough guys to be in the film. However, just before he turned up, one of the company died in the bathroom from a brain aneurysm. Because he was always in the house, and knew all the lines, Marcello stepped up and took his place.” (Garrone, The Skinny)
