The Return of Cagliostro

'Dedicated to all the people who have been ruined by cinema,' this is the fourth feature film by Sicilian duo Ciprì and Maresco. In 1947, the brothers La Marca, former holy statue-makers turned film producers, set up Palermo's first film company with the intention of competing with Hollywood. Their financiers: Church and Mafia. Needless to say, this is the beginning of a long nightmare for all involved. When The Return of Cagliostro was first screened in Venice, the audience burst into laughter at the Sicilian accents and the painful mimicry of the veteran TV stars playing the two simple-minded brothers. Call it Italian farce, call it mockumentary, certain things do not travel well. This is one of them.