Keoma is a 1976 movie directed by Enzo G. Castellari.
Keoma tells the story of a gunfighter who returns to his plague-ravaged hometown to battle his half-brothers and discover a meaning for his life. Franco Nero plays the title character – a half-breed former soldier attempting to find meaning in his nomadic existence.
In some respects, Keoma is a post-modern European Western – which is an oxymoron of sorts given the sub-genre’s genesis. Or at the least, Keoma represents the sunset on a wildly inventive, creatively pure era of movie making.
Either way, we get Franco Nero doing his best Jesus-esque, half-breed post-modern Hippie impersonation.
Nero plays a character very familiar to Western fans – the half-breed fighting for the respect of his family. Yet, the role feels unique given the actor’s background – particularly as Sergio Corbucci’s suave, selfish mercenary. In Keoma, Nero is an earthy, introspective fighter for the oppressed.
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