ITALIAN PREMIERE OF DEATH PENALTY FILM LA GOCCIA

La Goccia (The Drop) relaunches the debate against the death penalty, from a universal point of view. It identifies in a capital execution the climax of an atrocious culture of violence, says Gregorio Napoli, film critic for the Italian daily, Il Giornale di Sicilia.
The plot is straightforward: a murderer hits, a policeman investigates, a judge rules. And the executioner prepares the execution room.
Yet: “They show humanity in what they do,” Victor Hugo wrote, attributing his words to the unfortunate man being taken to his death on a handcart.
And in La Goccia, as the story unfolds, we find an innocent man has been put to death.
A highlight of the 70-minute film is the scene where a newscaster, grinding out the daily list of tragic events: rape, stabbing, fratricide, abuse, stabbings, war – which the daily bombardment of news has rendered customary – suddenly bursts into heart-wrenching sobs.
The scene is evocative of Lanzafame’s creative compassion, expressed technically through a masterful use of dolly, claustrophobic structures and meticulous analysis of detail.
Among the actors, Remo Girone’s judge stands out for the passion and depth with which the acclaimed actor portrays him. The cast includes Bibi Bianca, Stefania Blandeburgo, Gaetano Balistreri and Francesco Gulizzi.