Thursday, August 02, 2012
Italian Noir: The Story of Italian Crime Fiction
Like its Irish counterpart Italian crime fiction is currently
undergoing some long overdue critical and commercial success. Starting with Andrea Camilleri creator of the Inspector
Montalbano series of novels, Italian Noir: The Story of Italian Crime Fiction,
charts the history of Italian crime and it’s recent rise to fame.
Carlo Emilio Gadda’s novel "That Awful Mess on the Via Merulana"
is cited as being the genesis of the Italian thriller. First published in 1957 Gadda’s
novel uses a series of murders in Rome to serve as a critique of the fascist
government of Benito Mussolini.
Other novelists featuring in the film are Leonardo Sciascia,
author of "The Owl" and "The Moro Affair", and Massimo Carlotto, author of the "The
Fugutive", whose own life story makes for fascinating reading.
Relatively unknown, in English speaking countries Giancarlo
de Cataldo and Barbara Baraldi are also featured. Being a judge de Cataldo
reveals he had access to places, people and files which were strictly off
limits to other writers.
Finally we are introduced to Carlo Lucarelli whose novel "Almost
Blue" was a best seller in Italy and beyond. As well as being a writer Lucarelli
presents his owncrime investigative programme
on Italian tv.
If Italian crime fiction has a common theme it is that by
the end of the novel things are not so clear cut. A certain ambiguity remains
and crimes are often not solved, or, if they are, as many questions as answers
remain.
First broadcast in 2010 Italian Noir: The Story of Italian
Crime Fiction will serve as an excellent introduction to Italy its crime
writers and recent history of political and social problems. Ciao bella.
Labels: Italian Noir: The Story of Italian Crime Fiction
Comments:
Gosh Jessica I guess I didn't make that clear, apologies. The authors are themselves and are interviewed in in film.
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