The Traitor
Directed by Marco Bellocchio
- drama
- crime
- thriller
The story
Palermo, Sicily, 1980. Mafia member Tommaso Buscetta decides to move to Brazil with his family fleeing the constant war between the different clans of the criminal organization. But when, after living several misfortunes, he is forced to return to Italy, he makes a bold decision that will change his life and the destiny of Cosa Nostra forever.
What it’s like
Long, unhurried takes and formal, painted compositions give this one the feel of a court record come alive: pale Roman marble corridors, heavy wood-panelled courtrooms under flat fluorescent light, and sun-bleached Sicilian streets that turn hard and dusty in the afternoon. Bellocchio's camera settles into rooms and lets faces hold the frame, while sudden, sharp bursts of violence arrive without warning and then cut away quickly. Music is sparse, with long stretches of ambient room tone, dialogue in Italian and Portuguese, and occasional ironic pop cues that jolt the mood. The vibe is tense, sardonic and deeply sombre, closer to a slow-burning political thriller than to a crime spectacle. Expect a steady rhythm of interrogations, tense conversations and family moments, with a central man whose quiet defiance gradually reshapes his sense of loyalty. Violence is real and sometimes brutal, including shootings and killings, though it is brief and mostly unshowy rather than gory, and the dread comes more from what is said than what is shown. It suits viewers who want serious, talky historical drama with weight and a politically charged edge, not gentle viewing.
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