Rent Salvatore Giuliano (1962)

Gangster's paradise - Salvatore Giuliano review by WS

A profoundly depressing exposé of the interpenetration of politics, organised crime and landed interests in rural Sicily. Depressing not only in its portrayal of corruption and deference, but in the lack of any clear moral lessons to be learned or grounds for hope. Classed as a Neo-realist film but don't expect "Bicycle Thieves". The pivotal event is the massacre of Porta della Ginestra, in which assailants fired upon people who had gathered to celebrate May Day, killing 11 including women and children. Much of the second half of the film deals with the investigation and subsequent trials, and focuses on the struggle to find out who ordered the killings. The subject matter is given a documentary-style treatment, with the emphasis very much on dramatising the known facts rather than providing character depth. But parts of it are quite cinematic, especially the military operations in the town, and the courtroom scenes which are possibly the highlight.