“Il Divo”: the life of one of Italy’s most controversial man ever

Il Divo

Giulio Andreotti, former italian prime minister, passed away a couple of days ago aged 94. But who was this man who served in almost every italian government from 1947, when he became under-secretary during  De Gasperi government, ’til 1992 when his last term as prime minister ended abruptly during the corruption scandals that led to the spectacular implosion of the so called “First Republic”?

If you looked at the word “power” in an italian dictionary you’ll probabily find an Andreotti photo. As said above he served in almost every government of Italy for 45 years. He was prime minister three times (seven counting the cabinet reshuffles) in 1972-73; 1976-79 and 1989-92 and he has held prestigious cabinet posts as Finance Minister (1955-59); Defence Minister (1959-66; 1974); Foreign Minister (1983-89) and many others. Giulio Andreotti was a member of the Christian Democracy, the party that ruled Italy from the end of World War II ’til 1993. The Christian Democracy was sometimes called “the State Party” for his tendency to occupy every aspect of the public life and power, and Andreotti was probabily the best representation of the party tentacular power.

Being prime minister during the seventies, Italy’s darkest post-war decade, left a black shadow on him. During the seventies Italy was in a state of de facto civil war betweeen right-wing and left-wing terrorists groups. These years have been infamously called as the “Plumb years”. The apex was touched in 1978 when former prime minister Aldo Moro was kidnapped and killed by the Red Brigades, a left-wing terrorist group. Aldo Moro was the “director” of the so called “historic compromise” between the Christian Democracy and the Communist Party that culminated with the parliamentary support of the Communist Party to Andreotti’s governments in 1976-79 legislature.

Moro was kidnapped in march 1978 and was retained in captivity for 55 days. The Red Brigades proposed a negotiation to release Moro. Italy’s public opinion and political parties were deeply divided during those dramatic days. Two lines divided Italy’s political landscape the “Line of Firmness” who opposed any negotiation with terrorists and the “Line of negotiations” who supported a treaty with the Red Brigades. The Communist Party and the Christian Democracy supported the “Line of Firmness” while the Socialist Party, some members of the Christian Democracy, most notably Senate President and former Prime minister Amintore Fanfani, supported a negotiation. After 55 days of captivity Moro was killed and harsh polemics touched both Andreotti and Interior Minister Francesco Cossiga. The kidnapping and killing of Aldo Moro is probabily the moment where the “black legend” of Andreotti started.

In 2008 Paolo Sorrentino directed “Il Divo”  a movie about the late moments of Andreotti’s political carreer in early 90’s and the legal troubles that haunted him in the year following his political downfall.

The movie started showing some of the murderers who are claimed to be linked with Andreotti: lawyer Ambrosoli; bankers Sindona and Calvi; journalist Pecorelli; military general Dalla Chiesa; former prime minister Moro; and anti-mafia prosecutor Falcone.

Then the movie showed Andreotti, played by Toni Servillo, swearing on the constitutiona as prime minister for the seventh and last time in 1991, after a cabinet reshuffle. His last government was marked by a do-nothing policy as Andreotti was yet thinking about 1992 presidential election (1). The movie show a number of reunion between Andreotti and the group of his most loyal supporters in the Christian Democracy in which Andreotti officialize his intent to run for president. But there’s an obstacle between Andreotti and the “Quirinale”, the obstacle is fellow Christian democrats Arnaldo Forlani, former Prime Minister and chairman of the part.

In the 80’s Andreotti, Forlani and socialist leader Bettino Craxi formed a triarchy that “de facto” ruled Italy during the 80’s, the so-called C.A.F. (Craxi-Andreotti-Forlani). But now Andreotti and Forlani, the fromer allies, will clash for the presidency. The two met, but none seemed willing to concede the presidency.  Forlani will be the official party candidate for presidency but he failed to reach the overall majority required to be elected by 30 votes. Forlani retired from the race, it seemed likely Andreotti’s moment. But christian democrats are seemed not willing to reunite on his name. During those days a murder shatter Italy. Anti-mafia prosecutor Giovanni Falcone, his wife and the men of his escort were killed during a mafia attack. As a response the political world re-united on the name of House speaker, christian democrat Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, thus ending Andreotti’s life dream of becoming president of the republic.

The second part of the film focused on the political downfall of Andreotti. Unlike many other political leaders of Italy, most notably Bettino Craxi and Arnaldo Forlani, Andreotti was not touched by the corruption scandals that led to the implosion of Italy’s political sistem in early 90’s. Andreotti himself was openly accused by Craxi of being behind those scandals as he was noted for having a misterious “archive” on his political allies /rivals.  However Andreotti time will come, and here starts the second part of the film.

Andreotti was openly accused by former mafiosi to be related with sicilian mafia. He was accused of having used his connection with mafia to murder Calvi; Sindona; Pecorelli and Ambrosoli. During the 90s, when Andreotti served as a “Senator for life” he had to defend himself from two trials. One who accused him of being heavily linked with mafia, the other one who accused him of being the one who ordered the murder of journalist Mino Pecorelli. Andreotti was found innocent in both trials (2) after many years.

I’m sorry for all the spoiler, however it’s hard to tell about those movie in a non-italian blog without explaining a little bit of the history.

 Paolo Sorrentino is surely not a fond of Andreotti and, using a grotesque fellinian style, describes Andreotti as vengeful, machiavellan, conscienceless, cold, almost unable to prove emotions. Andreotti, according to these movie is simply a man with the cult of power and who was disposed to everything for having it. The legendary caustic irony of Andreotti here is shown in a dark light. The andreottian irony, that made him a pop icon in Italy, here becomes acid sarcasm.

Certainly the movie is pretty partisan, and sometime even misleading (3). However the performance of Toni Servillo is marvellous. Overall the movie is even entertaining while depicting  the last gasps of Andreotti’s power. While being certainly partisan, “Il Divo” is a must-see for anyone who’d like to know something more about Andreotti and the dramatic phase that saw the implosion of the so-called “First Republic”. However, before seeing it is fundamental a quick read of italian history, at least on Wiki, or the comprehension of the plot will be difficult.

Andreotti was extremely irritated by the movie and contested the reconstruction of the events, especially when the movie speaks about his link with organized crime.

The movie has earned critical acclaim and numerous awards including the Jury Prize at Cannes and an Oscar nomination for Best Make Up. Toni Servillo, who played the part of Andreotti received critical praise and numerous awards including European Film Award, the highest honour of Europe movie industry, and Italy’s most prestigious prizes: David di Donatello and Silver Ribbon.

Box office rresults were good in Italy and Europe and the movie was able to see even a limited release in the US. “Il Divo” has been one of the few italian movies in the New Millenium able to achieve awards and box-office success also outside Italy.

Andreotti and his political legacy is still much controversial and probabily president Napolitano was right saying that only history will be able to judge him. It’s too early to have a comfortable historic judgement on him and on the tempestous events that saw him as a protagonist, but “Il Divo” will help you a bit, tough taking count the open partisanship of the movie.

(1) Italian president is elected by the parliament for a seven year term. Despite having no official term limits no president has served for two terms ’til this year when Giorgio Napolitano was re-elected after a political dead-lock

(2) Well, the thing is more complex. He was released of charges for the murder of Pecorelli, but the other trial had a much more ambigous sentence. Andreotti was released but because his crime fell in prescription. The ambiguity of the “absolution” on the second trial is still source of controversy towards the link between Andreotti and “mafia”.

(3) Per example the movie shows the infamous “kiss” between Andreotti and Mafia boss, Toto Riina, something that never happened and has been proven to be nothing more than a “Urban Legend” bore by a photomontage.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
babette
babette
10 years ago

Did Andreotti have anything to do with the murder of Pasolini?

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  babette

Gosh, I haven’t saw this 😀

Well, the death of Pasolini has often been discussed, and there were speculations of political cover-up. However Pasolini used to attend male prostitutes and, as far as I know, the most probable theory is that his murderer, the male prostitute Pino Pelosi, wanted to rob him. Probabily he was not alone and he was aided in the murder.

2
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x