90
The Hollywood Reporter by Frank Scheck
While the races, which go back hundreds of years, last no more than 90 seconds each, Palio packs enough intrigue into its proceedings to practically fuel a miniseries.
Palio
Critic Rating
(read reviews)User Rating
- United Kingdom
- 2015
- · 92m
Director
Cosima Spender
Cast
Luigi Bruschelli,
Giovanni Atzeni,
Silvano Vigni,
Andrea de Gortes
Genre
Documentary
Taking bribes and making deals is as essential as being a good rider in the Palio, the world’s oldest horse race. Giovanni, a young jockey, is up to the challenge when he faces his former mentor on the track. What ensues is a thrilling battle with the intoxicating drama that is at the center of Italian tradition.
Stream Palio
What are critics saying?
80
Screen Daily by David D'Arcy
Spender...has made a rare kind of documentary – muscular and refined, and a splendour for the eyes.
80
CineVue
Through this absorbing, sometimes disturbing documentary, Spender reveals much about Italy's underworld, as well as the people's passion for spectacle, their machismo, pride and their rivalry.
80
Screen International by David D'Arcy
Spender...has made a rare kind of documentary – muscular and refined, and a splendour for the eyes.
80
Time Out
An absolute eye-opener, this unusually rich sports portrait should be seen on the biggest screen you can find.
80
Time Out by Trevor Johnston
An absolute eye-opener, this unusually rich sports portrait should be seen on the biggest screen you can find.
80
CineVue by Lucy Popescu
Through this absorbing, sometimes disturbing documentary, Spender reveals much about Italy's underworld, as well as the people's passion for spectacle, their machismo, pride and their rivalry.
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) by Kate Taylor
[A] fascinating documentary.
70
Variety by Joe Leydon
The film boasts characters as rich, and a narrative as entertaining, as might be found in the most crowd-pleasing of scripted sports sagas.
70
The New York Times by Daniel M. Gold
Despite its oversights, the film — shot and scored beautifully — is an enthusiastic introduction to this delirious event and its peposo of passion, style and intrigue. As the Sienese like to say, the Palio is life.
70
Village Voice by Sam Weisberg
While Spender spends enough time with both new and retired jockey legends to collect a gold mine of macho, bullheaded rapport, you wish she delved deeper into the more sinister, behind-the-scenes wheelings and dealings.
60
The Guardian by Peter Bradshaw
It is a handsome-looking film, though it has a promo look to it occasionally, like a lavish tourist ad. I loved the horse’s-eye view Spender gave us at one stage, careering around the track.
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