Reality by Matteo Garrone - Kinemastik Film Club

Reality

Luciano, a Neapolitan fishmonger is duped by his malicious would be mates into auditioning for a spot in 'Big Brother'. What follows is a rags to rags fable worthy of the best De Sica. Winner of the 2012 Grand Prix award at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, 'Reality' is, in Garrone's own words, his first stab at 'comedy'. Am still not quite sure what to make of the Director's claim for the end result is a jet- black satire on the devastating effects of celebrity culture that is high on pathos and pretty damn low on laughs. Be it as it may, the results are spectacular. Aniello Arena, who plays the protagonist, is a former member of the Camorra who is currently serving life in prison for the murder of three people. Garrone discovered him at a theater play staged by the inmates of the Volterra prison. He sought special permission for him to appear in 'Gomorrah' and was denied, but kept insisiting for his next feature. Kinemastik Film Club is being curated by Mario Vella: A veteran of the local music scene, Mario often loves to shove (he prefers 'sharing') his informed or half formed opinions down people's throats and choking himself in the process. Unfulfilled by a job which takes up the lion's share of his time, he often seeks refuge in movies, songwriting and petty online controversies. He also likes to eat. A lot. Perhaps even more than watching movies or penning the odd song for his band 'Brikkuni'. Mario's lifelong ambition is ''striking the perfect balance between obnoxious and lovable''. A self proclaimed Italophile he couldn't pass on the opportunity to 'share' four of his favorite Italian movies with us.