The Mafia Only Kills in Summer

WARNING: This review is hidden because it reveals the content of the film.
Click here to show this review. LA MAFIA UCCIDE SOLO D'ESTATE ( The Mafia Kills Only in the Summer)

Arturo, the young protagonist, before going to bed one night says to his father: " Well! They will probably kill us all."

" No, my son, it's winter; the Mafia kills only in the summer."

The film is labelled a ROMANTIC COMEDY. IT IS NOT! BLACK COMEDY is exactly what it is. We are in a 20 year span (70's to 90's) of actual Mafia incidents in Palermo and in Sicilia in general. It was the worst of times. It's all in this backdrop that young Arturo has grown into manhood (20 years) and he's desperately in love with Flora a sweet girl he's known since elementary school. There's no denying the film highlights the pernicious acts of the Mafia or Cosa Nostra, one and the same thing. MAFIA bluntly reflects how the Cosa Nostra was allowed to flourish handsomely, from the sheer complacency coupled with much 'blindness' on the part of the citizens of that era... until a breaking point is reached... then it's EYES WIDE OPEN. True life events are balanced by Arturo's determination to get the girl of his dreams. The film works so well as it balances darkness and light to a degree of perfection. This little gem offers some wonderful humour, Italian style, crazy, young romantic love, heart aching emotion, all the ingredients for a " romantic comedy " which is partly what it is. We see everything through the eyes of this lovely 'simpatico' young man who philosophises that even with too many Mafia murders not to mention other horrific news stories from day to day, there's still room for love. THAT'S WHAT I LIKE... AN OPTIMIST!!! This is a directorial debut, a truly terrific one, and to my shame I forgot his name. KUDOS to him because he faces things head on ending with a very powerful message.

This film was endorsed by several delegates of the Italian government as one of the best movies ever depicting LA MAFIA.