Mixed by Erry Review – Rewinds to 80s & Piracy Boom
All Enrico Frattasio wanted as a young boy from a working-class Italian neighborhood was to be a DJ and play his mixtapes for the world. However, encouraged by his ambitious brothers, he ended up heading a pirate mixtape empire that became larger than some leading legitimate music labels. But nothing “too good to be true” lasts too long, and the Frattasio brothers eventually find themselves behind bars for their illegal business.
Directed by Sydney Sibilia, who shares writing credits with Simona Frasca and Armando Festa, the 2023 Netflix movie “Mixed by Erry” follows the real-life story of how three brothers became renowned in Italy for their bootlegged tapes. Luigi D’Oriano plays Enrico, who becomes fascinated with the world of music while working at a record store. When the store shuts down, Enrico is devastated but starts to pursue his dream of making mixtapes and selling them beyond his street in Naples in the 80s. Giuseppe Arena and Emanuele Palumbo play Enrico’s brothers Peppe and Angelo, who rope in cigarette bootleggers to sell their tapes around the country.
The gripping storytelling based on real-life events is the best thing about this Netflix film. Viewers are first introduced to the Frattasio brothers as little boys who help their father make and sell fake liquor. It’s fascinating to see three young men from one of the poorest localities in Italy hustle and become sought-after businessmen who drive around in Lamborghinis. Since it was the 1980s, piracy wasn’t even considered a serious offense and the Italian authorities had far more serious crimes to deal with. Which meant the Frattasio trio thrived for quite a while before finally getting into serious trouble for their activities.
While the actors don’t necessarily deliver award-winning performances, they all do justice to their roles. The cinematography is bright, retro and a nostalgic walk down memory lane for those who’d recognize the joy of listening to their favorite track on a walk-man. The movie entertainingly covers a lot of ground in under two hours, steering clear of complicating the plot with romantic subplots and emotional entanglements.
It’s a 7 on 10 from me. Stream it on Netflix.
