Videocracy
In Italy, for thirty odd years, the image has been controlled by one man. TV-magnate and Presidente Silvio Berlusconi has influenced the content of commercial television in a way never before done in Italy. His TV-channels, with their young skimpy-clad girls, are seen by many to mirror his own taste and personality.
In Videocracy, Italian-born director Erik Gandini portrays the consequences of a TV-experiment that Italians have been subjected to for 30 years. Gaining unique access to the most powerful media spheres, he unveils a remarkable story, born out of the scary reality of ”TV-Republic” Italy.
AWARDS
Best Documentary, Toronto Film Festival
Inaugural Special Jury Award, Sheffield Film Festival
Citti Award to Erik Gandini, Golden Graal
Tempo Documentary Award 2010 (Best film)
Crossing Europe Award 2010 Linz, Austria
REVIEWS
Erik Gandini’s Videocracy is an intriguing, mordant look at the world of Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi: an acrid Dolce Vita for the modern day… a dreamy, mesmeric and highly disturbing psychogeography of 21st century Italy, or perhaps a meandering anthropological study of a disfunctional cult, ruled by a thin-skinned, self-pitying lader.
The combination of terrific footage with a low, rumbling score of doom makes this a compelling horror show.
A horrifying cavalcade of Mussolini-fixated agents and extortionists turned celebrities, it presents a media-political conspiracy that’s way beyond satire.
No, it isn’t a documentary, it would be wrong to approach this movie in that way. It’s a horror film
Wu Ming Foundation
What makes Videocracy fascinating viewing is the inside view it provides of the celebrity-obsessed world that Berlusconi has created around him.
Videocracy is well crafted and edited. It’s just a shame it will never be shown on the TV networks it so ably holds up for scrutiny.
Its portrait of the perversion of culture in Berlusconi’s Italy will hang in the memory of all who managed to enjoy the privilege of seeing it.
Controversy around Videocracy
Both Berlusconi’s Mediaset channels and public broadcasterRAI refused to air the trailer for Videocracy, which Fandango released on 4 September 2009. RAI issued a statement saying that its three networks had refused to promote the movie because ”it is too much critical towards the Italian government”.