This fanciful reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Tempest transports the action to a Mediterranean island prison, where a shipwreck strands a traveling theater troupe and a gang of criminals. The prison’s governor must determine who is the actor and who is the convict. Theater impresario Oreste demands to put on a show, The Tempest, to prove his actors’ talents, but gang leader Don Vincenzo threatens Oreste against exposing him and his two nephews. When the uncultured thugs botch their lines, Don slyly notes that Shakespeare “won’t be offended if we change a few things” and works at trimming the story. The comedy of teaching gangsters to emote theatrically plays against the drama of the governor’s daughter romancing the Don’s son. Soon the play, the players, and the story of the play intermingle hauntingly.
Director: Gianfranco Cabiddu
Italy, 2016, 103 minutes
Film in Italian with English subtitles
Ticket purchase required
LOCATION
AMC Mazza Gallerie
5300 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20015
BUY TICKETS: HERE