Family Friend

Geremia is old and ugly, but rich. The way he uses his money is truly sick. He lends it to people in need but then with cynical cruelty and ironic mock-humility he forces the unfortunates to pay him back with heavy interest. Yet Geremia’s power over his victims fails to bring him the happiness he craves. He feels lonely and his bedridden mother is never satisfied with his efforts. There is Gino, of course, who affects a cowboy image and sometimes goes fishing with Geremia, although the moneylender never considers him a real friend. One day Gino brings him another potential victim, Saverio, who needs money for the wedding of his daughter. Rosalba turns out to be beautiful but not at all sentimental, and it looks as if Geremia will get along with her like a true family friend. This film in grotesque style, shot with great emphasis on the aesthetic aspect, is only the third feature film made by Paolo Sorrentino, but it still got him into the Cannes Competition for the second time in three years. The money-lender Geremia is played with remarkable feeling for the author’s vision by Giacomo Rizzo, another native of Naples who is known for a series of film and television roles but is primarily a stage actor.