Rent The Ciambra (2017)
3.4 of 5 from 164 ratings
1h 58min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
In 'The Ciambra', a small Romani community in Calabria, Pio Amato is desperate to grow up fast. At 14, he drinks, smokes and is one of the few to easily slide between the regions' factions - the local mafias, the African immigrants and his fellow Romani. Pio follows his older brother Cosimo everywhere, learning the necessary skills for life on the streets of their hometown. When Cosimo disappears and things start to go wrong. Pio sets out to prove he's ready to step into his big brother's shoes and in the process he must decide if he is truly ready to become a man. Filmed with participants from the local community, 'The Ciambra' offers an immersion in a world rarely seen on screen, with a level of emotion and energy captured by a unique cinematic language. - Actors:
- Pio Amato, Iolanda Amato, Koudous Seihon, Damiano Amato, Patrizia Amato, Susanna Amato, Rocco Amato, Francesco Pio Amato, Damiano Nicolas Amato, Pasquale Alampi, U Ciccarredù, Francisco Berlingeri, 'Maria' Rusinova Asenova, Simona Amato, Faith Uchenna Uburu, Kingsley Asimung, Michele Bovalino, Vincenzo Sposato, Paolo Carpignano, Riccardo Amato
- Directors:
- Jonas Carpignano
- Writers:
- Jonas Carpignano
- Aka:
- A Ciambra
- Studio:
- Peccadillo Pictures
- Genres:
- Drama
- Collections:
- The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Martin Scorsese
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Reviews (3) of The Ciambra
Compelling - The Ciambra review by TB
The camerawork immerses you into the world of Pio and the daily life and skills required to survive and get by on the streets in a small Romani community. The use of people from this real life community adds to the realistic feel of the film and the sensational performance by Pio takes you deep into his world, his feelings and his desire for adulthood and to be the man of the family.
This frank and honest portrayal doesn’t resort to violence, action or over dramatising the situation that the film is based on and in all honesty, it doesn’t need to. The acting, camerawork, pace and whole structure of the film is what makes this film stand tall in delivering a fantastic insight into this way of life.
A real cinematic triumph!!
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
No escape from this harsh life - The Ciambra review by TE
Absorbing insight into the life of a Romani community on the criminal margins of Italian society.
The character of Pio undergoes a tough rite of passage from boyhood to manhood in a world where love and compassion are in short supply. There is an air of inevitability about his transition into a ruthless macho gang member, probably a future leader.
Family gang loyalty trumps Pio's warm bond with an African man who has protected and helped him.
This is an excellent film, with inventive camerawork and surefooted direction.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Bicycle Thieves for the 21st Cnetury - The Ciambra review by RCO
Following (literally a lot of the time) Pio as he picks his way through life in the Ciambra community and with his African refugee/immigrant friends this is a fascinating story of family and community and the tensions of growing up.
Life is confusing when you are growing up, and the film might seem so at first but it all comes together as a vivid portrait of Pio's experience trying to grow up.
The actors playing the family members are all a real Romani family playing themselves, but it is only at the end credits when you see their names that you realise this, so natural are their performances (I don't speak Italian so there may be some clues in the way lines are delivered).
This is an excellent example of modern neo-Realism, very much in the vein of de Sica's classic 'Bicycle Thieves', but thoroughly modern. If you like the films of Ken Loach or Mike Leigh you'll like this.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.