Ultras - Italian production on Netflix
We had the chance to watch the Netflix film about Napoli fanatics - Ultras. On one hand it’s visually pleasing with well-dressed actors (featuring plenty of clothes from Weekend Offender), but on the other hand the insight into supporter culture is pretty poor.
In Naples the film was received with one word - weak. Sports journalist Carlo Alvino called it absurd. Local fans also reacted, hanging protest banners around the city. No surprise really - apart from some great shots and a solid soundtrack by rapper Liberato, the filmmakers failed to capture the reality of the ultras scene.
For director Francesco Lettieri, who had previously shot music videos for Liberato, this was a film debut. Ultras actually grew out of one of those videos, telling the story of a fan banned from matches of his beloved team. Years later it turned into a full-length movie.
“I think the ultras scene has huge cinematic potential.” - Francesco Lettieri
The main role went to former criminal Aniello Arena. Once a member of the Camorra, in 1991 he was sentenced to life for a street shootout that left three people dead. In prison he joined a theatre group where his acting talent came to light, even winning the David di Donatello award for best actor in Matteo Garrone’s Reality. Arena still serves his sentence but is occasionally released for film projects as part of social reintegration. The rest of the cast fit the vibe, though some look more like biker gang members than ultras. The film tells the story of a fictional group called the “Apaches”, showing three generations of fans, their friendships and struggles. The main plot follows Sandro (Aniello Arena), an older fan and ultras leader, and his younger friend Angelo, for whom he’s a mentor. The leader faces his past while trying to offer the younger ultra a better future.
The filming took place mainly around Pozzuoli, Baia, Bacoli and in Fuorigrotta, home to the San Paolo Stadium. Interestingly, Napoli didn’t allow their logo to be used, so all the flags, scarves and graphics in the film are fictional.
The script and portrayal of ultras culture sparked plenty of criticism. Lettieri defended himself saying: “I interviewed former members of supporter groups who offered their help in creating real stories and realistic characters.” Still, after watching, it’s fair to say the film (available on Netflix) doesn’t bring anything new to the table. No original stories. If you expect more than Green Street Hooligans or Okolofutbola, you’ll be disappointed. On the other hand, visually it’s really well made - which is pretty much the only reason we’d recommend giving it a watch.
