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Caiman is a curious beast, one minute baring its teeth for political satire and the next, warmly embracing humanity and all its foibles. Silvio Orlando plays Bruno, a producer whose latest film merges with the story of his own life. Italian director Nanni Moretti examines his responsibility to free speech as well as to his family, however it feels as if, like Bruno, he's bitten off more than he can chew. It's messy, but that said, not without its charm.

A wonderfully delirious opening scene shows the bombast and gratuitous violence with which Bruno made his name. Years later he's facing bankruptcy and the collapse of his marriage to erstwhile movie bombshell Paola (Margherita Buy). Then a glimmer of hope presents itself as a script by unknown talent Teresa (Jasmine Trinca). But as Bruno delves deeper into her work, he realises that it's a satirical swipe at Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi.

"GENUINELY INSPIRES SYMPATHY"

Orlando plays Bruno with glorious gusto, blasting lefties and lesbians, but feeling just as disillusioned with where his old ambitions have left him. Using the film-within-a-film conceit, Moretti draws vague parallels between Bruno and Berlusconi with hints at manipulation of the media and general money grabbing. Sadly they just don't add up to anything. The real joy is in the mild hysteria that takes hold of Bruno as he struggles to get Teresa's film made and keep his family together. His outbursts aren't simply for comic effect either, but genuinely inspire sympathy for his plight. If you can get beyond the ideological pretence, this is an engaging story of a man emerging from the murk of his past.

In Italian with English subtitles.

Caiman (Il Caimano) is released in UK cinemas on Friday 6th April 2007.