Crushed Nation's Sorrowful Lament over Rampant Capitalism
In the heart of the Veneto region, the film "Cities of the Plain" unfolds a comedy of the absurd, grotesque, and melancholic. The narrative begins with the protagonists, two fifty-something individuals named Carlobianchi and Doriano, found asleep in their car at night, oblivious to honking protests from other vehicles.
Directed by Francesco Sossai, a director from Belluno, the film was elected Film of the Critic at Cannes and has been described as "Tender and hilarious" by "Le Figaro" and "Enchanting" by "Variety". Sossai, who has steeped his Veneto in a detachment that is not yet over, after his Roman studies and film and television directing diploma in Berlin, transforms the elements of its setting into a comedy of the absurd.
Carlobianchi, one of the protagonists, is nicknamed Charliewhite, while the other is simply known as Doriano. These two individuals, both portrayed as "true strays" despite their connections to the world of show business, run away from something. Their journey takes them through the streets of Venice, where they search for the last "ombra" of wine.
The film's story takes place in an unspecified location in the Veneto region, a region that has been affected by turbo-capitalism, turning it into a factory and stripping towns of their history. Amidst this backdrop, the characters encounter a variety of individuals, including a timid student named Giulio, whom they meet during a girl's graduation celebrations.
Genio, a mysterious figure, appears when Cavalier Fadiga, a character reminiscent of Berlusconi and Del Vecchio, awards a retiring employee. Fadiga, the owner of an eyeglass factory, uses the occasion to show that the company is one big family. The pair of protagonists, Carlobianchi and Doriano, decide to have one last drink before the return of their friend Genio.
The film is not without its share of humour, with elements of the grotesque and the absurd intertwined. Sergio Romano, a man of theater, and Pierpaolo Capovilla, a musician and the singer of a countercurrent formation in the 90s, contribute to this comedic atmosphere.
Francesco Sossai, the director, has a unique style, as seen in his previous work, "Altri cannibali", a black-and-white film with faces found in bars, shops, and streets of his places. The setting of "Cities of the Plain" is characterized by a generically homogenous ugliness, a testament to Sossai's ability to find humour in the mundane.
"Cities of the Plain" is set to release on September 25th, promising a tender and hilarious journey through the heart of the Veneto region.
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