Mondocane’s traumatic first trailer lands between Blade Runner and City of God

Kino Lorber’s first trailer has been released for the upcoming postapocalyptic thriller Mondocane, and it’s the kind of movie that will immediately having cinephiles drawing comparisons to past favorites.

John Carpenter is known for his intense, synthy soundtrack. Writers who got a look at the film during 2021’s Venice Critics’ Week compared it to Blade Runner and Mad Max for its grimy futurism, and Lord of Flies Oliver Twist Its setup has a gang leader who rules over the town. He is backed up by semi-feral teenage boys. Heck, there’s even a little of Pixar’s LucaThe portrait shows two young Italian boys attempting to find their place in a fairy-tinted world. They also struggle with their feelings about their friendship and their relationship with the girl.

But the strongest comparison here may be to Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund’s stellar 2002 drama City of GodThe film also features rivalries and tensions and personal histories among young men who are wild about their pasts and trying to get into the criminal underworld. Mondocane’s opening trailer introduces two 13-year-old boys on the outskirts of the local gang, the Ants, which pushes them past their comfort zones and into acts of violence that will define what kind of men they want to be. From Kino Lorber’s summary:

MONDOCANE takes place in a future where Taranto (a coastal Italian town) has turned into a toxic wasteland ruled gangs. The film follows Pietro, Cristian and their best friend, Pietro, as they join the Ants, a local gang consisting of children and teens under the reign of Hothead. Their friendship is tested as they fight for Hothead’s loyalty and try to win the affection of a girl from the area. This leads to an explosive and violent confrontation, forcing the boys to pick a side. It’s an incredibly stylish film anchored by strong performances from a few talented young Italian actors, with shades of the dystopia evoked by Mad Max and Lord of the Flies.

MondocaneThe film will open in theatres May 20. A digital/VOD release is planned for June 7.