L’INTRUSA

Italy, 2017, 95 minutes, Colour.

Rafaella Giordano, Valentina Vannino, Martina Abbate.

Directed by Leonardo

A well-received film about social conditions in Naples.

The focus is on a middle-aged woman, a hard past, the influence of the Camorra, setting up a school and a refuge for the children of harassed mothers in the area. She is also confronted by the harsh mothers, the wives of the mob leaders. But she herself is very strong character, supported by sincere workers and volunteers, having to answer to the principal of the school who is caught between helping the children and the pressure from the crime bosses.

There is an atmosphere of realism about the film, and it might be called documentary -like. There are some further complications by the wife of a criminal charged with murder, her concealing him on the property, his being taken, a surly teenage daughter, and the issue of letter of the law and the challenge for compassion.

1. A slice of Neapolitan life? The influence of the Camorra? Trying to do good in Naples?
2. The realism of the film, semi-documentary? In Naples itself, the atmosphere, the school, the house, streets and marketplaces? The musical score?
3. Giovanna, her character, her own experience, age, compassion, yet prickly manner, setting up the school, the children of oppressed families, the range of their projects, the delight in creativity, their ages, enthusiasm, play? Their mothers depending on the school? The plan to build the huge robot, everybody involved, the eventual success and its manifestation happy carnival atmosphere?
4. The members of the staff, working with children, working with Giovanna? The discussions with the school principal, acknowledgement of the dangers from the Camorra, defying them? Not always possible? Giovanna and her interactions?
5. The house on the property, Maria and the children, her husband and the Camorra, murders, the discovery that she was shielding him? His arrest? Her children, the surly teenager, Maria defiant? The return, Giovanna letting them stay, principles versus compassion?
6. His arriving, defiant, the Camorra husbands, the threats to Giovanna?
7. The cars, the mobsters, their threats, supporting their wives? Their children?
8. The background of killings, murders, the effects on families in the neighbourhoods?
9. The film as a slice of life, social commentary, Italian in Neapolitan situations and the tradition of mob families and their influence? The possibilities of doing good in such situations?