Gomorrah (Photo : SundanceTV)
The most popular TV show in Italy, “Gomorrah” is not a biblical program or even about sex. It is the story of an Italian family, the Savastano, as it tries to maintain its status and drug territory among rival Neapolitan clans.
SundanceTV just introduced "Gomorrah" to the U.S., adding to the growing popularity of subtitled foreign dramas seen across the video streaming providers such as Netflix’s “Narcos,” USA’s “Queen of the South” and LinkTV’s “Borgen.” On SundanceTV, there are the German spies of “Deutschland 83” and “The Returned” French zombies.
“Gomorrah” has been described as so focused to be almost claustrophobic because of its aggressively dark content. Based on a book by journalist Roberto Saviano, the TV show “though rigorously human, is breathtakingly short on sentiment,” commented LA Times.
The show stars Fortunato Cerlino as Don Pietro Savastano, a grim-faced and ruthless mobster who is under the radar of policemen and neighborhood watch groups, while battling Conte, played by Marco Palvetti, a rival gangster who has entered Cerlino’s territory.
Other characters are Genny, his son, portrayed by Salvatore Esposito; Imma, his wife, played by Maria Pia Calzone; and Ciro, played by Marco D’Amore, on whom Pietro leans on. Genny is preparing to take his father’s place.
But American viewers had been warned not to expect the traditional stereotypes found in “The Godfather” and “The Sopranos.”
TV Guide calls the dark crime drama as “your next obsession” with its excellent choreography. It premieres on Wednesday, Aug. 24, at 10/9c on SundanceTV.
