Dimenticare Palermo

Dimenticare Palermo, a film by Francesco Rosi, is a compelling political thriller and drama that combines Italian cinematic aesthetics with a gripping narrative. The film boasts an international cast that includes the likes of Jim Belushi, Mimi Rogers, and Joss Ackland. In this production, Belushi displays his range and versatility as an actor beyond his well-recognized comedic persona.

Dimenticare Palermo's narrative is steeped in the world of politics, operating on both the personal and public fronts. Jim Belushi plays Carmine Bonavia, an ambitious, well-meaning, and idealistic Italian-American politician running for Mayor of New York. Bonavia's political platform involves the decriminalization of drugs—an unusual and bold stand for a 1990’s politician. Belushi portrays his character's combination of idealism, integrity, determination, and naivety with conviction and fervor.

On the eve of the election, he meets Carrie, portrayed effortlessly by Mimi Rogers, and the two strike an emotional connection. Adding a layer of complexity and romanticism to the political landscape, the film delves into the whirlwind romance that ensues. After losing the mayoral bid, Bonavia and his new bride jet off to Sicily for their honeymoon, unwittingly heading into a dramatically different world from metropolitan New York.

Sicily, as depicted in the film, is an enigmatic and gorgeous landscape imbued with a fraught socio-political backdrop. Joss Ackland creates a strong presence with his character. He introduces Carmine and Carrie to the deeply rooted Mafia-controlled society of Sicily. As the narrative unfolds, the couple gradually becomes entangled in the midst of mob and political corruption.

The title Dimenticare Palermo, which translates to "To Forget Palermo," might seem like a paradox, as the journey here forces Carmine to remember his roots, ancestry, and the complex socio-political structure of his homeland, rather than forget. Being a son of Sicilian immigrants, Carmine is confronted with the dichotomy between his American upbringing and his ancestral land’s entrenched old-world corruption.

Francesco Rosi, known for his socially conscious filmmaking, adeptly infuses the film with atmospheric and visual beauty. Parallel to the unfolding political drama and personal reflection, the film also pays homage to Sicily's beauty and cultural heritage, alongside its grim underbelly of crime, corruption, and violence. In Dimenticare Palermo, Rosi confronts the audience with the dark realities of power, corruption, and the dire consequences of confronting an entrenched system—the mafia and its stranglehold on Sicily's socio-political landscape.

Dimiticare Palermo's screenplay, modelled on the Edmonde Charles-Roux novel "Oublier Palerme", provides plenty of intrigue, suspense, and moments of unexpected revelation. The characters, especially Jim Belushi's Carmine, undergo significant transformation as the narrative progresses, showing the deep-seated impact brought on by an inevitable confrontation with the detestable aspects of one's heritage.

The performances, from Belushi's naive and later tortured Carmine to Rogers' bewildered and disturbed Carrie and Ackland's complex character, maintain an intense and riveting dynamic throughout. The characters’ journey through this maze of corruption, legacy, love, and self-discovery makes for an intriguing, if at times disquieting, viewing experience.

Throughout, Rosi maintains a balance of political commentary, personal drama, romance, and the mafia-controlled underworld. He even manages to squeeze in traces of a travelogue. Dimenticare Palermo maintains a tension that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, even amidst its scenic backdrops and romantic interludes.

In conclusion, Dimenticare Palermo is a thought-provoking drama, immersing the audience not only into the beautiful yet fraught landscape of Sicily but also into an intertwined world of politics, crime, love, and self-realization. The balance between these elements makes this film an experience worth exploring—the personal and political, love, and corruption, the beauty and the beast, all interwoven into one gripping narrative. For those looking for some elements of romance, tension, drama, and political intrigue, Dimenticare Palermo is undeniably an engaging watch.