Black Souls (15)
Directed by Francesco Munzi
4/5

A STARK portrait of life in organised crime, this gritty and sombre Italian mafia drama breathes new life into an over-familiar genre.

Like Matteo Garrone’s Gomorrah, Black Souls is devoid of all the glamour and lavish lifestyle associated with the mafia, focusing instead on the bleak reality of that world.

Set in Calabria in southern Italy, Francesco Munzi’s film centres on three brothers, two of whom — Luigi (Marco Leonardi) and Rocco (Peppino Mazzotta) — are still involved in the old family “business,” while older brother Luciano (Fabrizio Ferracane) has turned his back on it to run a goat farm.

His 20-year-old son Leo (Guiseppe Fumo) is desperate to join the firm and is angry and ashamed of his father whom he perceives to be weak.

When Leo starts a brawl in a nearby bar owned by the local crime lord he reignites an old blood feud which leads them all down a violent and deadly path.

It’s an intensely riveting and slow-burning drama which is a fascinating exploration of family ties and honour, along with a surprising take on Catholic ritual.

Ferracane gives a superb and convincing performance as the weary Luciano. With the world on his shoulders he is desperately trying to protect his son from ruin and to stop himself being reeled back into his old life.

It is a case of you can take the man out of the mafia but you can’t take the mafia out of the man.

However just as you think you know where all this is predictably heading, Munzi very skilfully pulls off a blinding plot twist which leaves you in shock and awe.