IL GRANDE SPIRITO/THE GREAT SPIRIT

Italy, 2019, 113 minutes, Colour.

Sergio Rubini, Rocco Papaleo, Bianca Guaccero, Ivana Lotito.

Directed by Sergio Rubini.

Italian writer-director, Sergio Rubini, has had a long and successful career.

In this film, he plays a thief, Tonino, involved in a robbery with several accomplices, the setting is the industrial city of Taranto. Tonino takes the loot from the robbery, is chased by his accomplices, hiding in the upper floors of the building, and a siege, trying to get help from a former partner.

But, the difference from any other robbery and siege film is that the inhabitant of the upper story is a man who believes that he is a member of the Sioux nation, behaving like a native American, dressed like a native American.

In strange ways, the two men bond, an opportunity for the man with The Great Spirit to exercise that Spirit, the thief, not exactly repenting, but seeing more possibilities in life and changing for the better.

For fans of Italian cinema.

1. A variation on a gangster and crime theme?
2. City of Taranto, the streets, buildings, interiors, industrial, crime, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The title, the character of Renato, his mental state, his thinking that he was a native American Indian, his awareness of the Great Spirit? His bearing, his head scarf, behaviour, Indian traditions and dancing, spirituality and the role of the spirit?
4. The setup, the robbery, the members of the gang, the robbery going wrong, the attitude towards Tonino, Lookout, nickname of Poodle, their ridiculing him? The plan to robbery, the absence of the owner, his sudden return, Tonino warning, the melee, on Tonino taking the bag and fleeing?
5. The camera work of the long chase, over the roofs, the buildings… The pursuit? Tonino and his escape?
6. The encounter with Renato, observing, not talking, giving the binoculars, the bonding, helping, Tonino and his injury, the Indian treatment and recovery? The binoculars and watching the behaviour of the criminals? The rival gang, the further brawling? Everybody against Tonino, to recover the money and jewels?
7. In the warehouse, with the bag, the loader coming in, offloading, covering the bag, Tonino desperate, trying to dig it out?
8. The drama of the relationship between the two men, Renato seeing Tonino as Mr Destiny? And move to help him? The two personalities, Tonino and his despising Renato at first, using him, relying on him, wanting him to dig out the bag?
9. The background of the building, Teresa, her husband and children, prostitution, seeing Tonino, the confrontation, his promise of money, her silence? The visitors, wanting reconstruction of the building? The documents and discussion with Renato, his mental state, for him to go back to an institution?
10. Renato and his help, Tonino tearing up the institution documents? The recovery of the bag, Tonino and his escape?
11. Renato, the attack, his death, Tonino covering him with the Native American cloth?
12. Teresa, with the children, finding the money and the watch, a happy future?