If Rome is the Eternal City, thenSuburrais ample proof that itscorruptionis just as immortal.

The 2015neo-noirgangster thriller combines crime and politics in a way that makes it clear that theres trouble coming.

The sordid catch here is that turning dreams into a reality means rolling around in the mud.

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Image by Nimesh Niyomal

Its one where power shifts and ambition could very well be the last nail in each characters coffin.

Spoiler alert they probably wont.

Each scene feels like a ticking time bomb, with crisis upon crisis playing out on screen.

Claudio Amendola as Samurai in Suburra

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Itspure Shakespeare if Shakespeare wrote about corrupt land deals and gangsters with automatic weapons.

Take Samurai, the shadowy crime lord who wants to expand hiscriminal empireto the shores of the city.

His plan is heavily reliant on keeping politicians on his payroll, and that seems simple enough.

The ensemble cast of Shade (2003) on a cropped poster

As the narrative progresses, every major player pays the price for their unbridled ambition.

Taking pointers from some of the most successful Shakespearean tragedies, theres no happy ending inSuburra.

Theres only the bitter reminder that power always comes with a hefty price.

Playing ahigh-ranking politicianwith the impulse control of a toddler, he embodies corruption in its truest form.

Altogether, Malgradi isnt just another dirty politician, hesas reckless as they come.

This dicey situation becomes even direr when the girl overdoses.

Instead of handling things above the board because why would he?

He does what any self-preserving corrupt politician would do.

A fixer is called in to handle the problem so he can walk away unscathed.

Unfortunately for him, his luck runs out, and this cover-up is the first domino to fall.

As the week unfolds, Malgradis desperation to cling to power only hastens the clock on the citys downfall.

Before he knows it, he’s caught betweenthe mafia, gangs, and even his political allies.

This all unfolds while he’s trying to push through a shady waterfront deal for Samurai.

By the end ofSuburra, the city is drowning literally and figuratively in a sea of corruption.