The Sopranos

The 90ies are taking a toll on us all – and the Mafia is no exception. Tony Soprano, ostensibly involved in »waste management«, is increasingly suffering from attacks of anxiety. Stress with his family, his duties to the mob, ... typical for any conscientious gangster. His sessions with his attractive therapist (Lorraine Bracco from GOODFELLAS) are supposed to remedy the situation. At its premiere in January 1999, THE SOPRANOS was highly acclaimed by U.S. critics. The secret of its success lies in its balance between being bloody earnest on the one hand but facetiously comical on the other, between doing its own bit of Mafia stereotyping and yet committing blatant offences against the rules of the genre. To boil it all down: »No Horse Heads, but Plenty of Prozac« said The New York Times. Add to that a piercing performance by James Gandolfini (GET SHORTY) as the gangster with a heart of gold and you have all the makings of a complex and fascinating film event.