Showing @ Filmhouse, Edinburgh until Thu 28 Mar

Matteo Garrone / Italy/France / 2012 / 116 min

As a new series of BBC talent show The Voice begins, Matteo Garonne’s playfully serious drama reminds us that the reality in reality television is often actually a bastardised, distorted and exaggerated version of real life. Napolese Fishmonger Luciano (Aniello Arena) is persuaded by his children to audition for Big Brother. After an interview call back, his interest turns into obsession as he imagines how his life could improve after entering the house.

With the hyper-reality of the opening wedding scene Garrone directly juxtaposes the glitzy, glamour filled life many aspire to with the mundane normality of Luciano’s everyday existence; sublimely captured in the prying panning shot through the wedding guest’s rooms as they peel off their fancy garb revealing their plainer attire. However, through the ancient architecture and the lilting soundtrack Garrone layers a mythical, fairytale element onto Luciano’s life as he goes about his daily routine. The inclusion of the heavily Catholic Michele (Nando Paone) highlights similarities between Michele’s commitment to God and Luciano’s devotion to the television, especially when Luciano starts behaving piously because of his belief in Big Brother. Has TV replaced religion as a contemporary means to influence public behaviour? What Garrone’s film rather wistfully shows is that it’s better to enjoy what you have than to let it fall apart while you dream.

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