Violent ‘Il Divo’ is full of murder, kidnapping, manipulation

‘Il Divo,’ which opens Friday at The Belcourt Theatre, traces the dubious dealings of Italy’s three-time Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti (played by Toni Servillo).

The degree of violence and lack of moral fiber displayed in Paolo Sorrentino’s Il Divo, which opens next Friday at The Belcourt Theatre, would be amazing if this were a film about fictional people.

But the fact that it covers the exploits (if that’s the right word) of a duly elected political figure makes it far worse. After watching the seamy antics and dubious actions of Italy’s three-time Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti (Toni Servillo), it’s impossible not to feel revulsion toward this character, while also wondering how he stayed in office so long.

Giulio Andreotti made his political debut in the late ‘40s, and became prime minister for the first time in 1972. Besides the multiple stints as prime minister, he also served as Defense Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of the Interior, finally being named Senator for Life in 1991.

But Andreotti was frequently embroiled in scandals, some of which find their way into this film. There was a string of assassinations involving people who caused him problems or were perceived as enemies, and many get recreated in visually remarkable fashion.

Sorrentino lets you know rather early what he thinks of his subject matter by presenting Servillo’s rather prominent head stuck squarely in the middle of a scene with what looks like umpteen needles sticking out of it. Andreotti is actually undergoing acupuncture treatment, but in this shot Servillo looks menacing and vicious.

As various former confidants or enemies continue getting killed, Servillo waltzes around feigning he has no knowledge of what’s happening. Sometimes he openly pretends he didn’t know something happened almost in front of his face.

He comes close once to acknowledging complicity in a death, during a dramatic confessional sequence where he expresses regret over the kidnapping and brutal murder of Aldo Moro in 1978. Moro was running against him for prime minister but was seized by Red Brigade members. It took 54 days before Moro’s bullet-riddled body surfaced, prone in an abandoned car.

Weaving back and forth between decades and events, Sorrentino’s direction and writing show a confident, cagey and dangerous figure, a manipulative type who lingers just far enough out of the fray to avoid any direct link to crimes. The film provides an interesting suggestion for how Andreotti could make amends for his conduct — one that you wish could actually have happened.

But in real life, he’s escaped the clutches of both foes and the government. A bizarre series of trials, acquittals, convictions and reversals on appeal have resulted in the now 90-year-old Guilio Andreotti enjoying a current career as a writer and television commentator, despite a court finding that he had collaborated with the Mafia on more than one occasion.

Il Divo doesn’t offer any remedies to the problems politicians like Giulio Andreotti cause, but it certainly gives audiences a great view into his background, actions and motivations.


Il Divo
Written and Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino
Starring: Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Piera Degli Esposti, Paolo Graziosi, Giulio Bosetti, Flavio Bucci, Carlo Buccirosso
Time: 110 minutes
Rating: Unrated
Our view: A sensational piece of filmmaking, though the sense of triumph is undercut by the fact that the movie unveils despicable conduct and possible criminal ties by a supposed representative of the people.