The Hidden Review: My name is Giancarlo Siani - Documentary review

"Ah you want to become like Giancarlo Siani"

"Be careful not to die as Giancarlo Siani"

The THR has been at the XX1V edition of Napoli Film Festival 2023, where it premiered the documentary "My Name is Giancarlo Siani", written and directed by Giuseppe Alessio Nuzzo. The documentary talks about the moving real-life story of a Neapolitan journalist called Giancarlo Siani, murdered at 26 years old for the best journalism service he was delivering against the criminal groups, which are characterizing Naples's struggle to this day.

The documentary explains well from the beginning his story and how he got into journalism to help increase the volume of speaking the truth about politics and criminal activities. In particular, to share about Camorra's actions, which is still an issue in the Campania region, and there are continuous fights against the expansion of its illegal activities.

In fact, he had the skills to go deeper and deeper in telling the truth even though what he got was basic information from police officers, moreover, his investigations and detective skills became such a problem for the criminal groups which called him a troublemaker for their illegal "business".

In this documentary, there are so many different tapes taken from Rai archives, news archives, family and friends interviews, and film archives, which accompany the audience through an incredible and crazy journey by explaining in detail his profile as a human being first and then as a journalist which has always characterized his work in somebody who took care deeply his audience through the responsibility he felt to have to say and speak about the truth, therefore, to inform in detail his audience.

The director and the production team have been able to tell well this journey and the importance of what Giancarlo Siani fought for through his articles, moreover, listening to the testimonials of his family members and friends and other profiles who engage in increasing its value.

This story is a very compelling aspect for a documentary not to underestimate as getting informed by direct people who had an actual connection of this helps generations to know more about this story and share with the world how important it is the value of the truth and speak of that as a weapon to help society.

This unfortunate event led Giancarlo Siani to become not such a martyr, a saviour, or a superhero but a symbol of hope for new generations yet to come.

Overall, "My Name is Giancarlo Siani" is a documentary that needs to be shared with the world and in schools to raise awareness of the history, illegal activities, and the work Giancarlo Siani strived for to make his legacy increase even more.

Congratulations!

Rest in power, Giancarlo!

Hidden Fire stars 10/10 ⭐️

Review written by Al Fenderico.

© 2023 The Hidden Review

The Hidden Review: 12 Repliche - Film Review

"God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers."

The THR has been at the XX1V edition of Napoli Film Festival 2023, where it premiered the movie "12 Shows" (12 repliche) written and directed by Gianfranco Gallo starring Gianfranco Gallo, Gianni Parisi, Gianluca Di Gennaro, Roberto Azzurro, Elvis Esposito, Peppe Miale, Mariacarla Casillo, Lisa Imperatore, Margherita Di Rauso, Franco Javarone, Ester Geatta.

"12 repliche" is an LGBTQ independent Feature Film drama produced by Maxadv with support from the Film Commission Regione Campania, and has had some Festival runs, winning in Montreal as Best Feature Film and Gianfranco Gallo won Best Actor.

Furthermore, the movie takes place in Naples, set in 2016, the same year as Cirinnà's law in a phase of approbation for LGBTQ rights. However, the story focuses more on its lead character, Andrea Michelini, a veteran theatremaker who is openly Gay and in a relationship with longtime theatre company member Rolando Spinelli (Gianni Parisi). At the same time, alongside them, we notice other terrific performances of Gianluca Di Gennaro and Mariacarla Casillo, who played their adopted son and daughter. Alongside them, the fantastic performance of Lisa Imperatore in a co-supporting role in this LGBTQ story, as well as the other actors who completed the cast with their performances.

However, the story touches base on how the lead character deals with his sickness of Leukaemia while performing for a 12-day show run of "Banana Blu", a play he wrote, directed, and starred in by Andrea Michelini. It shows beautifully in these struggling moments how the character kept saying, "If I am gonna die, it will happen on stage and not in a Hospital". Therefore, he kept going and moving forward with a smile and a strong attitude, showing his theatre company members that through passion and sacrifice, you can overcome everything. This behaviour reminds us how the Neapolitan beloved Eduardo De Filippo behaved on stage in real life in terms of his work ethic, and at the same time, this reflects how a human is attached to his work and respects the theatre work itself, sacrificing all himself for the arts despite the sickness only to see a smile from their audience.

Moreover, some scenes in the Hospital remind Patch Adams's character behaviour with young patients in the movie, and as much as the case is different, Andrea Michelini searches for happiness from the basic things of life, attaching himself to his childhood memory and helping other troubled young patients going after the sickness and gifting them with smiles and laughs.

By analysing the picture, even if it is a low-budget movie, it is the case that even with a small budget amount and the right equipment, filmmakers can do magic tricks with their little resources.

Overall, it is noticeable from the photography, screenplay, and crew work that despite being filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a movie to be proud of.

Congratulations, cast and crew!

Hidden Fire stars 8/10 ⭐️

Review written by Al Fenderico.

© 2023 The Hidden Review