AND one of those movies that tell a true story and that while you watch it you ask yourself: “Really?” Mixed by Erry, the new feature film by Sydney Sibilia (I stop when I want) that we advise you to go to the cinema, tells of the greatest forger of cassette tapes from the 80s.
Enrico is a Neapolitan boy who has the dream of becoming a DJ and who transforms his passion for music into a clandestine business along with his two brothers. Give it simple compilations labeled “Mixed by Erry” which he prepared for his brother to conquer the girl or which he distributed to friends in the neighborhood, builds an empire. Music piracy changes shape and becomes a real threat to discography with Erry.
Who is Enrico Frattasio, the author of the cassettes Mixed by Erry?
Naples, 80s. Henry is a boy from the Forcella neighborhood who dreams of becoming a DJ. Together with his two brothers, he helps his father sell fake whiskey (it’s actually tea) at the market and works as a cleaner in an appliance store. This is where he comes in contact with music and where he starts duplicate and create your own compilations.
When the shop closes, together with the Erry brothers he decides to dedicate himself to the duplication of tapes for the neighborhood. They borrow 8 million lire from a local moneylender, Don Mario, to buy the first duplicating tools and open a shop. Business is unexpectedly booming: in 15 days earn 13 million.
The success of Mixed by Erry and the attention of the Camorra
In addition to duplicating original cassette tapes, Erry added other similar songs after the songs, based on the musical genre, such as: in an album of Joe Cocker Enrico inserted pieces by Sugarif a compilation was New Romantic he played something new wave. It was a way to make music known. From the neighborhood the business spreads to the region and finally to Italy. Duplication of cassette tapes becomes more profitable than smuggled cigarettes. And the Camorra bosses they are not there and threaten the Frattasio Brothers. But Enrico, Peppe and Angelo are not intimidated and they respond fearlessly.
Their trades continue. They expand out of proportion. They ask for a loan of 210 million lire, they buy more 10,000 blank cassettesfound several companies, open twenty laboratories for clandestine duplication and hire 100 employees. In the mid-1980s, the Frattasios were earning much more in a week than a normal person earned in a lifetime.
The Frattasio brothers in the film. (Photo A. Pirrello)
The rise and arrest of the Frattasios
The boss of the neighborhood wants to go into business with them. Mixed by Erry it is a national reality. The Frattasios, in Milan, stipulate an exclusive agreement with the CEO (played by Fabrizio Gifuni) of a company that produces cassettes: we are talking about 5 billion lire in blank boxes. Mixed by Erry occupies 27% of the music market, becomes the first Italian label with peaks of 77% in the South. These are incredible numbers and a symptom of an emergency.
There finance (represented by the figure of the policeman Ricciardi, played by an extraordinary Francis DiLeva) and the music industry are alarmed. In 1991 Enrico & Co. were arrested for conspiracy and forgery of cassettes and sentenced to 4 years and 6 months of imprisonment. After the phenomenon Mixed by Erry born there Federation Against Music Piracy to protect copyright and intellectual property. Today erry produces and distributes gift boxes and occasionally performs as a DJ. Brothers Fractose they duplicated over 180 million cassettes. An incredible story that Sibilia tells with the comedy tone and the lightness of the protagonist who only had the I dream of becoming a deejay.
The awesome soundtrack Mixed by Erry
The film takes us through the years Eightyin an explosive Naples, marked by the phenomenon Maradona and the music of the time. Here are the songs leading up to that period nostalgic«when the music was more romantic – says the director – because it was bought together with a physical medium. It was given a value».
During the story of Erry’s adventures you will bump into yourself Sweet Dreams of the Eurythmics, What women do not say Of Fiorella Mannoia, And Mo’ and Mo’ Of Peppino DiCapri (which we also recently heard in the series The lying life of adults), Relax of the Frankie Goes to Hollywoodto Jump (For My Love) from the The Pointer Sisters and in many other great songs.
To close the film is Set free with her Oh dj (we advise you to watch the end credits until the end: you will find out how i Fractose they used to duplicate the compilation of San Remo before the original came out).
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