La grazia
It is no exaggeration to say that actor Toni Servillo is director Paolo Sorrentino's muse. Their collaboration has resulted in four memorable films starring Servillo, culminating in La grande bellezza in 2013. Servillo knows better than anyone how to give depth to Sorrentino's characters, who at first glance seem to lead successful lives in every respect, but who are actually lonely and unhappy. Their fifth collaboration, La grazia, is no different. Both Sorrentino and Servillo won awards at the recent Venice Film Festival.
The term of office of President Mariano De Santis (Servillo), who is still mourning his deceased wife, is coming to an end, and there is not much left to do. De Santis, a man nicknamed Cemento Armato (reinforced concrete) because of his unshakeable principles, still has two important decisions to make: will he sign an euthanasia bill and will he pardon convicted murderers? The moral implications are significant.
