SECURITY
Italy, 2021, 118 minutes, Colour.
Marco D’ Amore, Maya Sansa, Silvio Muccino, Valeria Bilello, Ludovica Martino, Giulio Pranno, Tommaso Ragno, Beatrice Granno, Fabrizio Bentivoglio.
Directed by Peter Chelsom.
Thriller and a portrait of the city setting in north-eastern Italy, on the coast. It was filmed in the town of Forti de Marme which is the name of the town and the screenplay. It has been directed and cowritten by British Dir, Peter Charlson (Hear My Voice, Funny Bones, The Mighty, Shall We Dance).
The central figure, Roberto, has a security and surveillance company. His rather alienate it from his wife, avoid staying at home, is attracted to a young woman who is mother to a teenage son who is glimpsed suspiciously on the surveillance screen.
There are many strands in the plot, especially concerning an adolescent school student who is seen after being violently treated – and there are several suspects. There is the young man seen in the surveillance. There is a teacher of creative writing – and many complexities since he is having an affair with Roberto’s daughter, and the girl who suffered the violence is also in his class, each of them presenting some kind of autobiographical story to the group. Then there is a wealthy man in the town, elderly, who suffers from an inability to be touched. He is also the sponsor of Roberto’s wife and her beard and campaign to become mayor of the town. There are also police investigators.
The screenplay spends quite some time and exploring each of the characters which means that their interactions are all the more interesting. There are political issues. There are social issues. There are psychosexual issues. There are sexual violence issues.
The film works as a police investigation as well as a socio-political drama.
- The title? Roberto and his company? In action? The clients and the surveillance? The town, safety of the citizens? Each of the characters and their own personal securities and insecurities?
- The town, the actual locations of Forti de Marmi? The vistas, overviews, the sea, the beach, the mountains? Streets, homes, school, interiors? The musical score?
- The structure of the film, the violent episode, Maria in the street, wanting help, the surveillance cameras? The gradual reconstruction of the event, the flashbacks, the memories, the lies?
- The mesh of the characters? Personal relationships, exploitative relationships, the creative writing class and the students, telling their stories, the younger generation, the parents? The politics, right wing, election campaigns, financial support? Personal corruption?
- Roberto’s story, his company, his associate, the surveillance cameras, called in for emergencies? His personality, working class, appearance, his beanie? His relationship with Claudia, his infidelity, accompanying Claudia to the campaigns, socials, his being uncomfortable? Insomnia, sleeping in the homes of absent clients? His seeing Dario in the car, driving him home? The relationship with his mother? The cooling relationship with Claudia? Angela and her behaviour, defying her parents? His wanting to piece everything together, his sympathy for Walter, interrogating Maria, Angela and his telling of the truth, the discussion with Stefan oh and his explanation? His attitude towards Gulati?
- Claudia, the marriage, cooling, the episode with her daughter and water, her thinking the worst, protecting her daughter? The possibility for becoming mayor, her ambitions, the support of Gulati, the socialist and investment in the town? Campaigns, speeches, cutting the ribbon? Her reaction to Angela’s behaviour? Watching the compilation of surveillance with her daughter, shock? Her relationship with Gulati, sympathy for him?
- Gulati, his presence in the town, his wealth, supporting Claudia? His not wanting to be touched? Discussions with Claudia, with Roberto? The cutting of the ribbon? The gradual revelation of his behaviour, his confessions to Claudia and wanting to change, hiring Dario, observing the sexual behaviour, with Maria, the drug, the coffee, the violence? His being exposed?
- Dario, young, employed by Gulati, the sexual behaviour, consensual, prurient observing? The episode, is trying to help Maria, her jumping from the car? His defiance towards his mother, the cover up, called in, his confession?
- Maria, the injuries, wanting help? The revelation of her story, her relationship with her father, his trying to protect her, his drinking, the memories of the episode at the fair, the sexual misinterpretation, his reputation? Wanting to take responsibility for Maria? In the class, with Stefan oh, going to Gulati’s house, the drinking, sexual behaviour, the drug, the violence, on the street, pleading to the surveillance cameras? At the end, the class, interaction with Angela, reconciliation?
- Stefan oh, a successful book, teaching creative writing, the young women, the students, his aims, the telling their stories? Jen Everett taping Maria’s story? His relationship with Angela? His going to Gulati’s house, leaving, his telling the truth? The break with Angela, her wanting to go off with him, the revelation that he is the ghost writer for Gulati? Resuming his classes?
- The police, the interrogations, Roberto and his investigations, looking at the surveillance tapes, finding the truth, editing together? Circulating them around the town? Everybody’s reaction? Self-protection?
- Roberto, a new life with Elena, the family?
- The dramatic complexities, within the town and its confines?
