Based partly on the true story of a notorious recent criminal case in Italy surrounding the collapse, by massive mismanagement and corruption, of a gigantic food company (Parmalat), this is a gripping, handsomely mounted combination of conspiracy thriller and high-finance drama.
The Jewel cleverly and entertainingly plots the rise and then dramatic fall of the initially family-owned business (nicknamed ‘The Jewel’ because of its value to the Italian economy) by fair means and increasingly foul, with dodgy financial deals, dubious political alliances and gross greed aplenty, in a period covering over 20 years. Molaioli’s film is his second, after his highly-regarded feature The Girl by the Lake (JDIFF 2008), and he confirms the promise of his debut with this meaty story, well told with verve and style. Embellished by luminous cinematography from Luca Bigazzi, The Jewel is also anchored by another magnificent performance by Toni Servillo (Consequences of Love, Il Divo) as the cunning, irascible, but almost pathetically loyal chief finance officer, who tries to hold things together as everyone around him is devoted to pillaging and plundering the company’s assets. - Adrian Wootton, BFI London Film Festival