I saw the film "Gomorra" last night. I was wondering - do Italians need sub-titles to follow the dialogue? The Neapolitan dialect was so thick as to sound in places like a grunted code. It was probably laced with some impenetrable argot - who knows? The only time intelligible speech featured in the dialogue was during contract negotiations in Venice. Otherwise the actors could have been speaking any language.
I have a question about this film. How could it have been made without the tolerance, if not the co-operation, of the Camorra clans it was depicting? We are informed that three of the actors have since been arrested and charged with Camorra linked offences. I know that Saviano tells us in his book that the Guappi are obsessed with gangster films, and imitate the behaviour and the language they see and hear on the big screen - but taking part in a film that exposes their murderous organisations?
In fact, when I read Saviano's book, I was surprised at how well the organisation ("sistemi") came out of it in areas such as business efficiency, prompt delivery, decent pay levels, care of prisoners' families. Apart from the bloodletting the Camorristi were depicted as successful and fairly benevolent capitalists. According to Saviano all the top Italian fashion houses rely on the Naples crime organisation for manufacture (contracted out) and transportation.
It is not strong-arm tactics but efficiency and competitive pricing that keep outfits like Gucci and Armani in partnership with the Camorra.
It is said that, unlike Hollywood products like the "Godfather" series, "Gomorra" does not glamorise the gangsters or depict them as in some way honorable men. I think that's true, but nonetheless it may serve the purpose of the organisation by showing it as powerful and invincible, and as an integral part of the Italian economy. I'm sure they got something out of the deal as they allowed the film to be made on their territory.
Saviano is supposed to be in hiding from the Camorra. Perhaps so, he named the gangs, their bosses, their spheres of influence and of business activity. The film is not so specific.

Addendum, 23.2.09: I've found out that "Gomorra" did have subtitles for Italian audiences -

Gomorra, il film di Matteo Garrone premiato a Cannes, tratto dal libro di Roberto Saviano, è interamente recitato in dialetto; un napoletano strettissimo, incomprensibile senza l'aiuto dei sottotitoli in italiano.

(La Stampa,30.5.08)
I also read that there were discussions between the film makers and the camorristi before filming began, but haven't learned yet what what was on the agenda.