BS: Is Sicily empty?

Subject: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 06:31 AM

"Inspector Montalbano" (UK TV BBC4, Saturday evenings) is a must for me and, if I'm out gigging on a Saturday night, then I watch it on the iPlayer the net day.

But - is there anyone other than Montalbano and a few other people in the whole of Sicily? He walks down a street - nobody there, no cars, no people. Walks along a beautiful beach - nobody there, apart from him and the odd corpse. Same old faces in the police station -Fazio, Augello, Catarello, Galluzo. Along comes the sexy Ingrid to tease him... phone calls with Livia in Genoa - but no people in the streets except at a funeral. Does no one go shopping? All the places in Italy I've been to have been buzzing with life, apart from the two hours at midday when everyone's eating in the shade.

I'm guessing they keep the streets cordoned off while they film so as not to get staring locals - or perhaps they can't afford the bevy of extras you get in street scenes in English or American productions. Even the helicopter shots of the towns in the credits show very few people. Where have they all gone?

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: pdq
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 09:35 AM

New Jersey.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: Greg F.
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 10:43 AM

And Brooklyn.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: Rapparee
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 10:59 AM

It's empty. No one wants to live there any more, so they moved.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: gnomad
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 11:16 AM

I have wondered much the same. Wiki gives a population of about 5 million, or 200 per square Km, England having about 395 per square Km. So less crowded than England, but still twice as full as France at 97.

I watched the series with interest, having enjoyed the books very much and wanting to see if my mental pictures were anything like correct. They weren't.

The characters are somewhat different from my imagination, and there have been the usual adjustments in plot to accommodate the different format, but a far better adaptation than many such.

For me the biggest revelation has been just how barren much of the island seems. The dry stone walls and the farmsteads seem very much like the Yorkshire dales, but with blistering sun as 'normal weather' to replace torrential rain. The towns, urban views, and buildings are like nowhere I know. I am seldom tempted by hot places, but I reckon a winter visit could appeal.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 11:34 AM

This is no more amazing than 'action' shows in the US where heros drive to locations in a big city and find a parking spot right in front!

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: polaitaly
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 12:22 PM

No, Sicily it's not empty, but like for many other places in Italy (and elsewhere, I suppose) most of the people live in the big and crowded cities, and in the country and little cities there are few peoples. And yes, much of the island is barren, but the place is magnificent. I have seen very few places in my life beautiful as Sicily. The best time to see it is April, or even March.
I'm glad you like Montalbano! I had no idea it had been translated to english
paola

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 12:25 PM

I bought the DVD of the first three Montalbano films issued in this format, and thought them well done, but of course there were some deviations from the book in the one that had read. I wasn't a regular reader of these books.
I haven't seen the episodes on TV, don't know if they were ever shown in Canada-U.S.

I also enjoy the films of the Donna Leon novels of Venice and Commissario Brunetti, but the German language in the background (I got subtitled DVDs) bothers me a bit. I have watched only the first two in the issue; they were close to the story developed in the novel.
I haven't seen this series on Canada-U.S. TV either.

Sicily gets 24 inches (611 mm) of rain a year, thus is dry compared with G.B.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 01:30 PM

Hi Paola - I've read all the Montalbano books, and seen all the TV films so far, and really enjoyed them. Sicily looks very tempting for a visit!

The TV adaptations are, on the whole, very faithful to the books (in translation).

Now, if I was a much younger man and hadn't been married for over 45 years, those Sicilian beauties... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 01:50 PM

I don't know these books or movies; but I do know I once went to stay in Taormina, and visited Syracuse and Palermo and Enna and Messina and Catania, and there were lots and lots of people there...

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: johncharles
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 02:01 PM

A great place to visit,fantastic historical sites,great food.
john

Subject: RE: BS: Is Sicily empty?
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 07 Oct 12 - 03:49 PM

I'm going there next week, to stay in Cefalu. Lovely! I was there in 1972 to watch the works Alfas and Ferraris in the Targa Florio. That time we slept in the car (Cortina GT) or on the beach. Going back this time as an over-weight and elderly tourist.