East End: Italian Animated Film Satirizes Rome and Global Figures

East End, an Italian animated feature directed by Margherita Bordino, is set for release in May 2017. The film follows twin geeks who hijack a secret military satellite to broadcast the Roma-Lazio derby at the Olympic Stadium. It satirizes Rome's urban decay and corrupt politics, featuring caricatures of Pope Francis, Roberto Saviano, Barack Obama, Silvio Berlusconi, Angela Merkel, George Clooney, and Francesco Totti as the 'Pupone' hero. Produced by Andrea Iervolino with international financing from Spain and Canada, the animation was largely done at AIC Studios. The film is described as irreverent, akin to South Park or The Simpsons, and aims to blend lowbrow satire with social commentary. It releases ahead of the Cannes Film Festival, competing with blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy. The cast includes references to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Morgan Freeman, and Bill Murray. Bordino, a journalist and filmmaker from Calabria based in Rome, wrote the review for Artribune.