A major figure in Italian political and media life, Silvio Berlusconi died at the age of 86. A sulphurous career marred by numerous scandals, as pointed out by the documentary “Draquila”, which caused a scandal in Italy.
“Silvio Berlusconi orchestrated the spectacular media coverage of his life. He did this for electoral purposes. He used the political scene as if he were a movie star. He did it to interfere more easily in the unconscious of Italians and manage to touch them deep within themselves and obtain their consent” slipped us in 2018 the great actor Toni Servillo, who precisely embodied the sulphurous businessman and politician, in the film Silvio and the others.
And to add: “I think he was able to bring out in Italians this fantasy of a ‘super-Italianity’. He brought to politics a kind of priapism which the Italians have always had great indulgence in. He also occupied the political scene with extreme efficiency.
Words that today have a particular resonance: the one we nicknamed he ridera major figure in Italian political and media life, has just died at the age of 86.
Almost unsinkable
Three times chairman of the board (from May to December 1994, from 2001 to 2006, and from 2008 to 2011), parliamentarian from 1994 to 2013, then from the fall of 2022 to his death, unstoppable leader of the Italian right, entrepreneur media billionaire, ex-owner of AC Milan football club, Silvio Berlusconi has left a deep mark on the country.
An exceptional political and media longevity, which was also marred by numerous private and financial scandals, between tax evasion, corruption, witness tampering, and even prostitution of minors.
LAPRESSE / BESTIMAGE
Prosecuted several times, he had managed to avoid prison thanks to laws that he himself had passed, until 2013. He was then condemned for the first time definitively for a case of tax evasion .
If you are encouraged to discover or review the wonderful film Silvio and the othersan acid portrait of the man who also sketches the state of a country that brought him to power, or even the powerful charge of Nanni Moretti in Le Caïman, we are directing you to a documentary willingly: Draquila – Italy that trembles.
A man who vampirizes his country
The fourth film by Italian director Sabina Guzzanti, the film takes its title from a tasty play on words. First, the terrible earthquake that killed 309 people in the splendid little town of Aquila in April 2009, which was devastated, and whose Berlusconi government was singled out for its inertia. And the figure of Dracula, of course, who is embodied here by he ridervampirizing an entire country.
Presented at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010, the film angered the Italian Minister of Culture, Sandro Bondi, who boycotted the festival. Denouncing the corruption organized by the Civil Protection teams, Draquila was also a personal earthquake for the chairman of the board, whose image was seriously tarnished after this tragedy.
Bellissima Films
He was notably accused of having favored new construction outside the city, abandoning the city center. “The historic center is sacrificed for the benefit of these new towns” Sabina Guzzanti was also moved, in a interview given to Paris Match in 2010.
“A city devastated by an earthquake. The ideal place to tell the authoritarian drift of Italy and the imbroglio of blackmail, scandals, swindles and inertia of the political class, the media, the inhabitants and everything that paralyzes this country” commented the filmmaker at the time in her notes of intent on her film.
Why do Italians vote for Berlusconi? Why do they consider that democracy is not a suitable system to govern the nation? It is L’Aquila, this splendid city razed by the earthquake, which gives us these answers”.
We also met Sabina Guzzanti when she came to France to promote her film…
Seven years after the tragedy, from promises to scandals, the reconstruction site of the city center was still not launched…