New Showbiz

You are here:
Mafia Is Not What It Used to Be

Mafia Is Not What It Used to Be

2019

Director

Franco Maresco

Runtime

111 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Palermo, Sicily, Italy, 2017. Twenty-five years after the murders of anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone, on May 23, 1992, and Paolo Borsellino, on July 19, 1992; and on the occasion of the tributes held in memory of both heroes, skeptical photographer Letizia Battaglia, chronicler of their titanic combat, criticizes the opportunism of shady characters who, like businessman Ciccio Mira, profit from the commemoration of both tragedies.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.6/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The documentary focuses on political corruption and organized crime. There are no visible LGBTQ+ character arcs or narratives within this historical context.

Gender Representation

Fair

Letizia Battaglia serves as a central figure of professional agency. Her role as a primary chronicler disrupts traditional gender hierarchies within a male-dominated landscape.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The film centers on a specific Mediterranean regional identity in Palermo. It engages deeply with local social structures rather than presenting a multi-ethnic cast.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative critiques the opportunism of characters who exploit national tragedies. It offers a nuanced view of social institutions and the corruption of public memory.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence regarding the depiction of physical or neurodivergent identities in this work.

Strengths

  • Centers a female intellectual, Letizia Battaglia, as a primary agent of historical chronicling.
  • Provides a nuanced critique of how social institutions and public memories are exploited.
  • Challenges traditional patriarchal hierarchies through its narrative focus.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or character arcs.
  • Provides no visible depiction of physical or neurodivergent identities.
  • Focuses on a specific regional identity without multi-ethnic breadth.

AI Analysis

The film operates as a sociopolitical critique rather than a study in demographic variety. Its primary impact comes from centering a female intellectual to dismantle romanticized Sicilian histories. While the documentary lacks explicit intersectional markers for LGBTQ+ or disability representation, it achieves a moderate score by challenging established power structures. It focuses on the systemic corruption found in the commodification of tragedy. Ultimately, the work succeeds in its skepticism of civic morality, forcing viewers to look past commemorative veneers to see underlying social dysfunction.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.