Reality (Matteo Garrone, 2012): Italy

Reviewed by Jonas Johansson, viewed at the AFI Film Fest 2012

Matteo Garrone’s latest film “Reality” featuring some of the cast from his mafia drama Gomorrah, but Reality is very different from his previous work. Reality begins with a wedding ceremony where Luciano (Aniello Arena) is supposed to entertain the crowd as a drag queen, the guests are fairly amused and when Enzo who is a former Big Brother contestant arrives he is struck by his appearance. Luciano becomes obsessed with the thought of getting on Italy’s Big Brother or Grande Fratello as it is called in this movie. Luciano goes to the auditions but never receives a call back from the production company and believes that he is worthy a spot in the house and that the production company have people watching him to see if he is worthy a spot in the house as the special guest. His family who at first were supportive about his desire to be on the show starts to believe that Luciano is starting to go crazy and tries to help him to come back to Reality.

Garrone does a superb job in delivering a movie that leaves you questioning the obsession for fame people have and what is actually success in life, being on tv and recognized for a reality show. Is that success?