Vendetta - The law of violence
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Vendetta - The law of violence |
| Original title | vendetta |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1999 |
| length | 117 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Nicholas Meyer |
| script | Timothy Prager |
| production |
Sue Jett , Tony Mark |
| music | John Altman |
| camera | David Franco |
| cut | Ronald Roose |
| occupation | |
| |
Vendetta - American Me (DVD title: Vendetta - The gangs of New Orleans ; Original title: Vendetta ) is an American crime drama - drama from the year 1999 on the Italian immigrants in New Orleans end of the 19th century and one of the largest lynch murders in United States history, which occurred on March 14, 1891. It is a film adaptation of the 1977 novel Vendetta: The True Story of the Largest Lynching in US History by Richard Gambino .
action
New Orleans, 1890: The thriving city on the Mississippi River attracts numerous immigrants from Italy who fled the famine to the land of their dreams. A compatriot of theirs rules the docks and markets, the mustache Pete Joseph Macheca. His business empire arouses the greed of the cotton merchant James Houston. The unscrupulous businessman wants to take over the lucrative business of Macheta, has the police chief killed - together with the mayor - and blames Macheca and a few other Italian immigrants for the murder.
" Mafia " - until then just one word, becomes a monstrous accusation. It is made clear to the residents of New Orleans that all Italians are dangerous, all belong to the Mafia and are murderers on top of that. 18 Italians are brought to court with questionable evidence . The process that is made to the innocent men is anything but fine, because high animals pull the strings in the background. However, the accused are acquitted by the jury; but the incited mob cannot accept this judgment .
background
In fact, eleven Italians, all Sicilians , were killed by a mob of 3,000 to 20,000 people after a court acquitted six of them for the murder of Police Chief David Hennessy and scheduled another trial for the other three. Much resentment against the Italian community was also stoked by Mayor Shakspeare himself.
The real names of all victims are: Antonio Bagnetto, James Caruso, Loretto Comitz, Rocco Geraci, Joseph P. Macheca, Antonio Marchesi, Pietro Monasterio, Emmanuele Polizzi, Frank Romero, Antonio Scaffidi and Charles Traina. The 14-year-old Gaspare Marchesi and Charles Matranga were able to escape.
US press coverage of the tragedy at the time was largely positive and those responsible for the lynching were never held accountable.
The word "Mafia" was then included in the US American lexicons and thus the stereotype of the Italian-American mafioso firmly established in the popular imagination.
Reviews
“The little-known aspect of American history is rolled out in a detailed, convincingly played film. In doing so, he largely dispenses with external action and violence, instead, as a verbose court drama, grants insight into the trial files, with questions of tolerance and latent racism being dealt with. "
Web links
- Vendetta - American Me in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Vendetta - American Me at Rotten Tomatoes (English)