The Leader

What poetry! What beauty! This movie radiates a subtle humanity that would make Mahatma Gandhi weep with joy. Such is the essence of “The Orange Thief,” a remarkable independent film by first time directors Boogie Dean, Arthur Willnski, and Vinnie Angel. Filmed in Sicily over the course of one month, this unique movie has managed to earn numerous awards and was greeted by enthusiastic applause by movie goers at its sold out showing during the Fourth Annual Milwaukee Film Festival this Friday.

What do you get when you mix an orange thief (Andrea Clabrese), a psychotic murderer named Turrido, “The Smooth Blade” (Alessio Giottoli) a heartbroken singer named Rosalba (Micaela Helvtica Saxer), and a quirky musically deficient jail guard (Nucio Inocenzi)? A movie that goes down as smooth as a fine Sicilian wine, that’s what.

“The Orange Thief” follows the life of a free roaming man who lives a simple life among the land and the oranges. His luscious life of orange thievery is abruptly ended when he is caught and thrown into jail with Turrido, “The Smooth Blade.” Turrido is a notorious knife toting, psychiatrist loving, heartbroken murderer who longs once again to hear the angelic singing of Rosalba, his fiancé.  He enlists the Orange Thief to track her down and record her singing so that the he can once again hear her voice. In return, he promises to make a deal with the Orange Thief that tickles his land loving nature.

The world of “The Orange Thief” is filled with so much quirky humor and so many odd characters that you can't help but love it, and the roles of the supporting cast, while not completely necessary to the telling of the story, leave some of the most memorable and lasting impressions in the film. And the music? Delizioso! This cinematic work features some of the most beautifully performed acoustic guitar playing that has been put to film in quite a while; the Orange Thief's soft crooning voice and guitar playing, which play an important role in the movie, sooths the soul and moves the mind.

I also can't think of a better location for this film. The rolling vistas and Godfather-esque classical style of rural Sicily make the perfect setting to tell a romantic love story about three people and the land. It's the perfect night time escape. “When you live in the country, where do you take a girl? To the country?” Yes, but also to “The Orange Thief.”

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