Italian photographer Letizia Battaglia has been documenting life in Sicily for over 40 years and Palermo in particular. The most compelling of which are her photos and footage of Mafia hits. She recounts her life and her work. Besides the shocking pictures of murder victims, there is simple life on the street. One memorable footage is a man beating on what looks to be his wife. It's another random day in the life. This documentary talks about her life and her loves. I don't think it's the most interesting other than as another small slice of life. I also don't like the use of obvious film clips. Her personal life is never going to outshine her murder photos. All the dead bodies are incredible but also mind-numbing. The gangsters are compelling. A large part is Judge Falcone. The bodyguard widow's speech is heart-breaking. All in all, the personal story can be cut back and more of the mafia should be used.
Shooting the Mafia
2019
Action / Biography / Documentary
Shooting the Mafia
2019
Action / Biography / Documentary
Plot summary
Sicilian Letizia Battaglia began a lifelong battle with the Mafia when she first pointed her camera at a brutally slain victim. Documenting the Cosa Nostra's barbaric rule, she bore unflinching witness to their crimes. Her photographs, art, and bravery helped bring an end to a shocking reign of slaughter.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
mafia in pictures
Poorly made
The title of this documentary is misleading. It is not directly about the mafia but about the biography of the photographer. It seems she has had a strange life but it is very difficult to decipher as stories from her past are suggested and not clearly put together. There is no clear milestones to help follow a clear timeline of what is happening in her life, so it ends up becoming a very confused autobiography where a hectic love life and blurry career moves are mixed incoherently to form some kind of feminist testimony told by a red hair grandma. As far as the "mafia" pictures, it seems she spent most of her life taking shots of mafia victims. Not sure this was the best way to spend 1:34min of my life.
Bellissimo
Movie night with Iris.
Movies have typically glamourised the Mafia, but for the common people of Sicily, the Mafia has been a long-term waking nightmare. Photojournalist Letizia Battaglia started photographing Mafia crime scenes in her hometown Palermo during the 1970s.
Battaglia today is a vital and energetic woman in her early 80s with punky, pink hair. And her story, sexual awakening; dalliance with politics is just as engrossing. It perhaps isn't a coherent film. The first half a meandering journey, and the last half a more traditional, docu-telling of Mafia trials and retributions.