A blend of politics, the Mafia, and concentrated, modern, aristocratic Italian culture, Il Divo is a biopic on Giulio Andreotti, seven time Prime Minister of Italy, whose life is shrouded in secrecy and ambiguity, with plenty of wit to boot. Paolo Sorrentino writes and directs this calculated and highly entertaining film, a product of keen foresight and a scrutinizing awareness of each and every detail.

The story, based on Andreotti’s life, is a fascinating account of one powerful man’s unwavering commitment to secrecy, an obsessive-compulsive lifestyle in which everything is the product of extraordinary premeditation and an uncannily phlegmatic demeanor. A series of imprecise events contribute to the dissolution of Andreotti’s core group of followers, until all is apparently lost. The Italian government accuses Andreotti of Mafia involement, something against which he must adamantly defend himself, and, in the end, his eternal self-reliance will either be his savior or his hamartia.

Toni Servillo plays Andreotti serenely, brilliantly portraying a man whose outward character seems like the unsettling fusion of Kim Jong-Il and Mr. Magoo. Servillo’s surreal stillness is captivating. He says nothing, yet we hang on his every movement, his breathing, his pupils, his meticulous hands. And he is surrounded by capable actors and actresses, a cast of political players whose goal is nothing more than the deification, or downfall, of Andreotti.

The cinematography alone is reason enough to see this film. Sorrentino crafts each scene, however long, with conscientiousness and committed intentionality, not to mention a mordant wit, as dry as it is wry. He presents characters (and subtitles) from unforeseen angles, hidden behind objects, or not at all, all working to further the intangible quality of this film and its characters, whose larger-than-life personalities seemingly jump off the screen.

Andreotti, Il Divo himself, was truly a character, and this film certainly seems to do him justice, portraying a volatile and furtive political landscape, where conspiracy lurks around most corners, leaving the others simply too dark to see much of anything at all. Sorrentino and Servillo work well together, adding this to their repertoire of collaborative efforts, including Gomorra and the upcoming This Must Be the Place. Like all great director-actor collaborations, this film leaves one wanting more. If nothing else, at least a second viewing.

Rating: 4/4 Stars