Matteo Garrone Accused Of Getting Mixed Up In The Mob To Make 'Gomorrah'

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by Joe Cunningham
June 12, 2012 11:19 AM
2 Comments

Now this is a strange, strange story. You may remember Matteo Garrone’s 2009 film “Gomorrah.” The title is a play on words which crosses the Biblical city of Gomorrah and the name of the Neopolitan mafia ‘Camorra,’ and was a damning indictment of the activities of the Camorra and the often unexpected areas their illegal activities have stretched to and influenced. On the surface it’s a powerful and brave film that dares to take on the Camorra – Roberto Saviano, whose non-fiction book the film was based on, had already been forced to flee into police protection.

However, now a former Camorra figure turned informant, Oreste Spagunolo, is alleging that Garrone paid a Camorra kingpin a €20,000 bribe while filming “Gomorrah.” A police probe is looking into whether Camorra figures had a say in how the film was made (and if they did, how damning would the original version have been!), whether producers were forced to patronize Camorra-controlled businesses for supplies, and if the Camorra figures requested protection money when filming was taking place in Naples’ dangerous neighborhoods.

It’s a shocking allegation, and one that could potentially lessen the impact of an otherwise fantastic film, which was the first to bring the activities of this previously largely unknown crime syndicate to a wider audience. But then again, do these allegations (if proved to be true) only further drive home the message that the Camorra reign over the Neapolitan region and that it is almost impossible to operate there without drawing their attention? Maybe it’s all part of Garrone’s meta-narrative? Well, we hope not, and we hope the allegations prove to be false. But if something good does come from this story hopefully it’s that some will be prompted to go back and discover “Gommorah,” and maybe watch it from a slightly different perspective. [THR]

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hakaima sadamitsu | June 12, 2012 10:48 PMReply

It's shocking that you guys think it is shocking. Have you ever had any experience with filming in dangerous areas where the police might be just a big adversary as the local mafia? I don't think so, but still you should just give it a little thought and you'll find the answear. Film makers are not entities or super humans, they just want to do their job/art, and sometimes you gotta do business with the devil. Ask the Elite Squad, City of God, The Hulk teams.
AS | June 12, 2012 11:40 AMReply

I don't think it's that shocking. I imagine it would be pretty hard to make that film in Naples without involving someone who was connected to the Cammora. It's well known that several of the actors in the film were actual Cammora members so...