Caesar Must Die

Somewhere between a documentary and a fictional drama, Caesar Must Die was filmed entirely in the maximum security block of Rome’s Rebibba prison. A theater director holds auditions for a production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar among the prisoners serving long sentences for murder, drug trafficking, and Mafia-related activities. These tough guys, who value power above all else, bring added depth to their roles, and the film captures the transcendent quality of their encounter with great art. Best known for their international hits Padre Padrone (1977) and The Night of the Shooting Stars (1982), the Taviani brothers produced a festival favorite once again when Caesar Must Die won the Golden Bear at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival. (76 mins., DCP)