"Ceasar Must Die"

The latest movie by the Taviani brothers won last year's Berlinale, but only now it arrives in Poland and some other countries on the continent. It is a difficult docu-drama set in a prison, where the prisoners are about to perform one of William Shakespeare's drama, "Julius Ceasar." They are simple people with simple minds, but they understand enough about brotherhood, blood, killing and power. This is why a theatrical play rises questions and undiscovered emotions. Interestingly enough, the movie was set in Rebibbia, a famous prison when Ali Agca was an inmate for some time as well.
When "Ceasar Must Die" was shown in Berlin, in brought different emotions into daylight. Some reviewers said it was an easy choice of the Jury (led then by Mike Leigh). I wasn't a real fan of the picture either, but it actually gained new meaning some time after I saw it.
Really what astonishes in the film most, are the scenes of the casting. There are dozens of prisoners, all wanting to be in the play desperately, all speaking different accents, all there because of a terrible crime. And surprisingly enough, all very open-minded about theatre. One of the prisoners (Salvatore Striano playing Brutus) after leavinf prison, became a professional actors. Food for Thought.
More in The Guardian and The Hollywood Reporter.
My review was published on FilmNews, you can also scroll down.