Told in a near-documentary-style, realist way, The Mattei Affair is otherwise a sort of Italian Citizen Kane. It starts with the death of a character- based on a real businessman- goes back to tell his life, and explores the power of business.
I knew nothing of Enrico Mattei before seeing this, and at times the detail in the film could be hard to follow. Still, at its best moments, the film is an intriguing exploration of power. Mattei runs a state corporation in the oil industry, and defines oil not merely as money, but as power, creating revolutions and coups. He funds political parties, referring to them as taxis he gets on and off as it suits him. He runs newspapers giving him favourable publicity- at taxpayers' expense. He quotes an American journalist calling Mattei the most important Italian since Julius Caesar- hyperbole, maybe, but the point is made- Mattei made a mark on the world, in the name of Italy.
While the presentation is straightforward, at times, the drama gets through. And there's a bit of mystery, namely in Mattei's death. The film can't say whether it was murder- the case is unsolved in real life.
The Mattei Affair portrays the power wielded by a man, and how he presented himself to the public, but at times I wished I could know more about the man. Who is Mattei really? Does he really care about the Arabs? What does he really care about? Still, it is clear he is an extraordinary man- and the film is interesting to see.
I knew nothing of Enrico Mattei before seeing this, and at times the detail in the film could be hard to follow. Still, at its best moments, the film is an intriguing exploration of power. Mattei runs a state corporation in the oil industry, and defines oil not merely as money, but as power, creating revolutions and coups. He funds political parties, referring to them as taxis he gets on and off as it suits him. He runs newspapers giving him favourable publicity- at taxpayers' expense. He quotes an American journalist calling Mattei the most important Italian since Julius Caesar- hyperbole, maybe, but the point is made- Mattei made a mark on the world, in the name of Italy.
While the presentation is straightforward, at times, the drama gets through. And there's a bit of mystery, namely in Mattei's death. The film can't say whether it was murder- the case is unsolved in real life.
The Mattei Affair portrays the power wielded by a man, and how he presented himself to the public, but at times I wished I could know more about the man. Who is Mattei really? Does he really care about the Arabs? What does he really care about? Still, it is clear he is an extraordinary man- and the film is interesting to see.