Skinheads — Skinheads( Blu Ray)
Skinheads ( aka Teste Rasate) is an early 90’s racist drama directed by Claudio Fragasso (Hell Of The Living Dead, Troll 2 , Rats: Night Of Terror). The Rome-set film charts the steady brainwashing and troubling radicalising of a twenty-something biker by a group of white extremists. It features a believable central performance, a good support cast, and a pacy/ well-written script. Here from Severin is a recent Blu-ray release of the picture, taking in a 4k scan, and a exllent feature-length documentary about the film's making.
Skinheads is from the year 1993, and it was the fourteenth film from Fragasso. It was co-written by Carmine De Benedittis and Rossella Drudi. Fragasso is often known for his more trashy/schlocky filmmaking, but with Skinheads, he proves he can make a powerful & impactful drama, edged with moments of disturbing racist attitude/violence.
The film focuses on Marco (Gianmarco Tognazzi)- when we first meet him, he’s turning twenty-two. He lives in an apartment with his middle aged/ hard working mother, Roberta(Franca Bettoja). He’s a floppy-haired biker, he doesn’t work and hangs out with his biker buddies- smoking pot and shooting the shit.
Early on, we see he has an eye for African maid Zaira(Fabienne Gueye) who works for a rich woman in his apartment block. Initially, Marco comes across as lazy, but well natured/ kind enough fellow, who is just lacking direction.
One day, while riding the tram, an older gypsy man is bothering the passengers. He pulls a knife, but just before things can escalate, in steps a tall black leather trenchcoat skinhead figure- this we later find out is Führer(Giulio Base), the leader of a local neo nazi group, who have their own clubhouse & gym.
Marco starts visiting the group's gym- peering in, then one day he takes the step to visit their clubhouse, where pulsing EBM, as the denizens do rapid nazi salutes.
As the film unfolds, Marco and Zaira start a very passionate relationship. Though on the flip side, he’s getting pulled deeper & deeper into the group. It starts off with him graffiti/ urinating on the shop of a local Jewish jeweller, he gets his hair cut/ shaved in an almost ritualistic ceremony, and carries out racist violence- taking in tongue cutting, a burning, and a flinch-inducing beating of a woman.
Tognazzi is believable in his character arc/performance- as he slowly switches from a well-meaning enough layabout, to a pumped up/ nasty racist. Base comes across well as a charismatic/ manipulative group leader. With special mentions going to Flavio Bucci, who plays Riccardo, a Jewish jeweller, who tries to halt Marco's radicalisation.
The film plays at the one hour and thirty-eight minute mark. It’s most certainly an engaging drama, which pulls you in deeper and deeper- all moving towards a downbeat/ troubling resolve. I’d say Skinheads stands up with the best/ impactful racist dramas.
The region A Blu-ray features a new 4k scan. This is full of clarity and depth, really enhancing both the stark/ brutal moments and the more dreamy/ hazed scenes. The English subtitles are clean and crisp, with an even balance between the Italian dialogue track and the score, which moves between moody and pumping.
The only extra on this disc is the brand new/feature-length doc In The Name Of Hate (1 hour 31) this is a very in-depth making of featuring Director Claudio Fragasso; Co-Writer Rossella Drudi; Actors Gianmarco Tognazzi, Stefano Molinari And Giulio Base; Composer Sergio Cammariere; Art Director Claudio Bissattini; Editor Ugo De Rossi; Uncredited Replacement DP Nino Celeste; Stuntman Massimo Vanni; And Prop Master Vincenzo Luzzi. It’s an Italian language affair, which is most interesting/ informative- we move from finding out the ten-page treatment was written overnight. We find out how the production came about & actors were hired. There’s some neat behind-the-scenes footage. We get a discussion about the film's few sex scenes, and a detailed look at certain key shots that were captured. Locations are discussed, as are character profiles, and much more. Another excellent Severin documentary.
Skinheads is a well-paced, well-acted, and impactful racist drama- which will stay with you long after it’s finished. It’s great to see Severin putting out the film, as it stands as the best films in this genre. The disc features a great scan and a most interesting/in-depth documentary.