Piranhas

Released in 2019, the Italian film Piranhas (also known as 'La Paranza Dei Bambini' or 'The Children’s Gang') takes its viewers into the gritty streets of Naples, uncovering narratives of youth, ambition and the chilling consequences of crime. Director Claudio Giovannesi's realistic portrayal of growing up in an impoverished neighborhood offers a deep exploration into the motivations and consequences of adolescent gang culture. Screened in the competition category at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival, the film is partially based on the novel by Roberto Saviano and features a cast of largely unprofessional actors, which adds to its raw and authentic portrayal of life.

The pulse of the film is its young protagonist, Nicola (Francesco Di Napoli). He is a captivating and charismatic fifteen-year-old who is enticed by the leopard-skin upholstered opulence of local mobsters, an aspirational indicator of their social and economic status within a deprived community. Driven by a desire to protect his single mother and younger brother from the vulnerability of their surroundings, Nicola's initial taste of the underworld is sparked when he initiates a conversation with a local don.

An innate inclination towards leadership propels Nicola to form a gang of his own, handpicking it from a roster of his childhood friends. Piranhas is not necessarily about the rise to power but the frightening pace at which such ascendancy occurs. The young mobsters, armed with their age and sheer audacity, commit a series of crimes, gradually immersing themselves in the perilous world of the Neapolitan mafia, the Camorra.

Viviana Aprea plays Nicola's love interest, a testament to a quintessential teenage romance amidst encircling chaos. She deftly portrays the difficult position of a woman in this setting, her loyalty, and the emotional turmoil that courses through her as Nicola spirals deeper into the world of crime.

Mattia Piano Del Balzo delivers an equally convincing performance as Nicola’s accomplice. He expertly embodies the dynamics of friendship and loyalty within the harrowing gang culture. Be it the companionship they share or the tensions that inevitably rise between them, the relationship between the gang’s members constitutes one of the narrative’s key elements.

Fascinatingly, Piranhas maintains an effective balance between its elements of crime and drama. Despite the narrative trajectory, the film refrains from showcasing any gratuitous violence. The gang's daily activities, teenage desires, and dreams of grandeur serve a stark contrast with the dark paths they have chosen. It's a continuous dance between innocence and corruption, youth, and premature aging imposed by their life choices.

Director Claudio Giovannesi breathes life into the narrative by eschewing a didactic, judgmental tone. He allows the milieu, the dialogue, and the precise actions of these children-turned-criminals to reveal their circumstances and motivations to the audience. Instead of demonizing them, the audience is invited to a contemplative observation of this environment’s sociopolitical intricacies.

Of equal significance is the Neapolitan cityscape that forms the film's background. From dilapidated buildings and dimly lit alleyways to the stunning vistas of the Bay of Naples, the film uses its setting to potent effect. Gripping and sobering at once, this backdrop offers a tangible sense of place and elegantly underscores the complex, often contradictory emotions experienced by the characters.

An additional layer of authenticity is added by the use of the local Neapolitan dialect throughout Piranhas, helping to further immerse the audience in the film’s world. However, the subsequent need for subtitles might be unseemly to some.

Piranhas is a stark portrayal of a lifestyle left with little choice but to embrace crime as a means of survival. With its clear-eyed gaze on the vulnerabilities, ambitions, and trials of youth engaged in unchosen warfare, the film serves as a dramatic coming-of-age tale and a stark crime drama. It's a poignant exploration of power, morality, and the chilling reality of youth immersed in criminality, delivered with a touch of artful realism. The performances, storyline, and ethos certainly linger, leaving a blistering impact and a lot to ponder upon.