Gomorra

Gomorra is a title used for multiple related works that explore the influence and violence of organized crime in the Campania region of Italy, particularly around Naples. It originated as the non-fiction book Gomorrah (Gomorra in Italian) by Roberto Saviano, published in 2006. The book presents a documentary-style account of the Camorra, detailing its economic networks, involvement in legitimate enterprises, and daily impact on communities through interviews, case studies, and on-the-ground reporting. Saviano’s work emphasizes how the Camorra interfaces with politics, business, and society, and is notable for its unvarnished portrayal of criminal activity.

The book was adapted into a feature film titled Gomorrah (Gomorra) in 2008, directed by Matteo Garrone. The film uses a realistic, quasi-documentary approach with non-professional actors to depict several interwoven stories from different Camorra clans. It received international critical acclaim for its stark portrayal of crime and its consequences, and it won prizes at film festivals, including the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.

In addition to the book and film, Gomorra has inspired a television series of the same name, Gomorrah, which premiered in 2014. The series expands on the world Saviano described, following multiple clans and characters over several seasons. It has been produced for Italian television and later distributed internationally, contributing to ongoing public interest in the subject of organized crime in southern Italy.

The term Gomorra, like Gomorrah in English, alludes to the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, used as a metaphor for moral decay and corruption associated with criminal networks.