Il Divo

This has been an Italian weekend. The films Valentino and Il Divo have focused on Italian heroes. The only things missing were a limone gelati and an Italian lover.

Andreotti was the Italian Prime Minister for many terms. I recall vividly the emergency during the Aldo Moro murder. He was Andreotti’s opponent. I was in Italy at the time and I remember the day his body was discovered in a car trunk. Andreotti has been accused of many murders and connections with the mafia.

The film is dark and sometimes confusing. I couldn’t keep all the characters straight. They flash on the screen and you are told this one was murdered and that one committed suicide. I couldn’t keep it all straight in my mind. In the end it didn’t matter because the character of Andreotti was clearly defined. He was powerful. He was dangerous.

He was a most austere sullen man. His shoulders were always up to his neck. He never smiled and always had a stern look on his face. He is a classic case of ‘power corrupts.’

He was brought to trial many times and accused of a variety of horrid deeds. He always managed to get off.

It was no wonder he had many nicknames such as ‘Sphinx’ ‘Black Pope’ and ‘Il Divo’

The mood is bleak and dark at all times. There was a lot of shooting and many questionable suicides. I did love seeing the grandeur of the political buildings. At one time Andreotti states,” One cannot be too careful of the company he keeps.”

Unlike the present President there was no suggestion of young women. His wife seemed to be so much like him. She also was stern and sullen in appearance but seemed to care for him. One scene shows a party with many guests wildly dancing. Andreotti and his wife sat sullenly in chairs and watched. What a contrast.

It was an excellent film allowing the viewer to get a better understanding of a controversial character in charge for many years.