Il Mammasantissima

Il Mammasantissima is a gripping 1979 Italian drama film directed by Alfonso Brescia and featuring a remarkable cast that includes Mario Merola, Malisa Longo, Elio Zamuto, Enzo Cannavale, and Luc Merenda. Ringing with the echoes of Italy in the late 70s, this film paints a picture of life in Naples, capturing the essence of an era and the spirit of the Neapolitan people through the bustling circles of power, ethics, tradition, and love.

The story unfolds around Ugo Piazza, portrayed convincingly by the famed Neapolitan singer and actor Mario Merola. Ugo Piazza is a respected fishmonger, a humble bourgeois who leads a double life as the undisputed head of the Neapolitan underworld, a Mafioso known as Il Mammasantissima. This character stands as a paradox, an unusual combination of a loving family man and a feared mafia boss, walking the thin line between virtue and vice.

Merola's compelling performance brings nuanced layers to the character, drawing out the stark contrasts and inevitable conflicts that come with his dual life. Through this, Merola effectively reflects the complexities of society and the delicate balance between traditional values and the quest for power and control.

Opposite Merola is the beautiful Malisa Longo, who plays the role of Mara, Ugo's loyal and loving wife. Mara is blissfully ignorant of her husband's illicit activities, believing her husband to be a hardworking, dedicated fishmonger. Longo's portrayal of Mara allows us to see the character gradually discover the layers of deception woven into her life, her reactions alluding to the moral and social dilemmas that are born out of her enlightening realization.

Elio Zamuto plays the part of Inspector Genova, a determined cop vowed to bring Ugo Piazza and his criminal empire to justice. Inspector Genova's character adds a layer of suspense and tension to the plot, his relentless pursuit making for an interesting rise in the stakes and intensifying the element of risk for Ugo.

Further peppering the plot is Enzo Cannavale in the role of the bumbling accomplice and sidekick of Ugo Piazza, serving as a lively source of comic relief that cuts through the intense drama. Meanwhile, Luc Merenda brings a sense of unease and threat as a rival mafia don who challenges Ugo's supremacy. The interplay between these colorful characters gives the narrative a rich texture, making it an engaging cinematic experience.

One of the salient features of Il Mammasantissima is its raw, almost documentarian portrayal of the Neapolitan lifestyle. Director Alfonso Brescia, known for his diverse body of work across genres, does an excellent job of capturing the essence of Naples, its people, and its culture. From the bustling fish markets to the thriving underworld, Brescia paints a vivid picture of the city and its contradictions.

Another impressive element in the film is the evocative music composed by the gifted musician Franco Campanino. His melody adds an extra layer to the story, enhancing the intense drama and the suspense in the plot while paying homage to the traditional Neapolitan music.

The screenplay, crafted by Ciro Ippolito, expertly intertwines the threads of crime and family drama, using humor and emotion to engage the audience and drive the gripping narrative. The film's dialogues, steeped in the local dialect, add authenticity to the settings and characters.

Il Mammasantissima, with its nuanced characters, suspenseful plot, and vivid depiction of Neapolitan life, encapsulates the spirit of Italian cinema of the late 70s. It offers audiences a peek into the life, values, and culture in Naples during a turbulent time marked by the interplay of power, family loyalties, and the pursuit of justice.

The film is a memorable and thought-provoking exploration of dual lives, societal norms, and the unending struggle between right and wrong. As viewers follow Ugo Piazza's controversial journey, they are invited to ponder the thin lines between the legal and illegal, the parallels between respect earned in society and fear instilled in the underworld, and the fine balance between love and law. This anomaly is what makes the film, Il Mammasantissima, a captivating watch.