Propulsive, ambitious and more than a little addictive, ZeroZeroZero uses the framework of a global drug deal gone wrong to explore the motivations and betrayals of those who grease the wheels of this sprawling black market machine.
Adapted from the nonfiction book by the Italian investigative journalist and author Roberto Saviano, this eight-episode series – which was premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 and is now streaming on Sky Atlantic in the UK, Amazon in the US and a wealth of platforms across multiple countries – is a show that demands its viewers pay attention as it hops around in both geography (dialogue is in six languages, with subtitles moving as quickly as the action) and chronology. But those who invest will be rewarded with intelligent, compelling drama of the highest calibre.
Episodes viewed: 3 of 8
If you’ve ever fancied changing careers to become the leader of a drug empire (long lunches, travel ops but no life insurance or holiday pay),
ZeroZeroZero provides a good handbook. Adapted from the novel by
Gomorrah author Roberto Saviano by Stefano Sollima, Leonardo Fasoli and Mauricio Katz, the Sky/Studio Canal co-production provides a helicopter view of the cocaine business from multiple perspectives, tracking numerous characters speaking in different languages across many continents. If it sounds glamorous, it isn’t.
ZeroZeroZero offers a serious, borderline nihilistic take on an overcrowded genre, finding its own space by minting its broad perspective with colourful but controlled filmmaking.
Thursday, 4th February 2021 at 7:05 pm
A suspenseful new drama kicks off on Sky Atlantic tonight which offers a revealing look at how cocaine is smuggled and sold around the world.
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ZeroZeroZero is based on the novel of the same name by Roberto Saviano, which follows a massive shipment of the substance and the individuals involved in the supply chain.
Dane DeHaan and Andrea Riseborough lead the English-language side of the cast as the Lynwood siblings, who become deeply involved in the dangerous illegal trade through their family’s shipping company.
The role was a particularly powerful experience for DeHaan, who is portraying a man with the degenerative Huntington’s disease, meeting with real sufferers of the condition to ensure accuracy.