Vespro d'un rinnegato (2012)
Directed by Carlo Fusco

Thriller

Film Synopsis

A series of murders begins David's story - confused memories from when he lived in Sicily, when he wasn't yet blind and belonged to the Cortello clan which lorded over the territory.  David departs, and on the long train journey back to his roots he meets Father Leonard, an African-American priest.  They have a past and a present in common, and on the train there is also a mysterious woman who plays a part in the priest's past.  The two men start to talk: Father Leonard asks a lot of questions out of curiosity, but also because he senses that the man seated opposite him has something weighing on his mind that links the two together. There is a series of recollections that go back a few years. David and his friend Vito make a living from petty thievery until one day David gets up the courage to present himself to Don Michele, the Cortello family boss, who takes him in, along with his pal Vito.  The family recognises at once that Vito is very courageous, but most of all capable of pulling a trigger, something David doesn't have the nerve to do.  In the meanwhile, something serious is happening not only in Sicily but also on the other side of the ocean.  Dan Mancino has recently arrived in Agrigento, standing in for Don Federico, a prominent member of an emigrant family in New York.  Dan Mancino is also crazy.

While the Cortello family is busy collecting protection money, even murdering a recalcitrant baker, Dan Mancino watches and starts taking over. When the Cortello family realises what is happening, it is too late to call in other families, so a war breaks out.  Dan Mancino discovers that David is Federico's half brother, so without letting anyone know, he convinces David to betray the Cortellos and come over to Mancino's side. At this point, power in both Sicily and New York rests in Don Federico's hands; David loses his eyesight in an accident and flees to Rome, abandoning his half brother.

On the train, Father Leonard also tells David his own tale: before becoming a priest, he was dealing with a certain Williams, whom he kills one evening after the theatre; the woman on the train turns out to be William's wife.  The long journey comes to an end.  Father Leonard alights, David continues on, and while sleeping, has a nightmare in which Don Michele kills him. While David is about to reach his destination, we see on the other side of the ocean Don Federico, who is leaving for Sicily.
© James Travers
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Film Credits

  • Director: Carlo Fusco
  • Script: Christian Repici
  • Cinematographer: Carlo Fusco, Riccardo Grattarola, Ugo Lo Pinto
  • Music: Aldo Azzaro, Antonio Ottaiano, Franca Sebastiani
  • Cast: Steven Bauer (Williams), Ervin Bejleri (Tony), Luigi Maria Burruano (Don Cimino), Francesco Casisa (Pasticcere), Federico Cimò (Don Antonio), Veronica D'Agostino (Maria), Abraam Fontana (Killer), Toni Gambino (Killer), Cassandra Gava (Debra), Danny Glover (Father Leonard), Anne Jeffreys (Susanna), Alfredo Li Bassi (Killer), Michael Madsen (Don Mancino), Giovanni Martorana (Davide), Karl Potter (Karl), Mario Pupella (Don Michele), Elisabetta Rocchetti (Donna Mercedes), John Savage (Father Karl), Franco Vella (Don Franco), Hal Yamanouchi (Hal)
  • Country: Italy / Romania / USA
  • Language: English / Italian
  • Support: Color
  • Runtime: 95 min

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