5 Is the Perfect Number

Peppino Lo Cicero is a former Camorra killer who has hung up his gun and taught his craft to his only son, Nino. The old man lives in a world where loyalty to family and the code of vengeance still matter. When tragedy strikes and Nino is brutally cut down, Peppino slides back into the shadows, using his street wisdom to track the killers. He doesn't seek a simple reprisal but a reckoning that shakes the Camorra from within. He moves with a quiet patience, relying on old contacts and a earned sense of timing that keeps him dangerous even in restraint. He faces rivalries and the price of loyalty, while weighing what his return means for everyone around him.

Directed by Igort, the film adapts his own graphic novel 5 is the Perfect Number. Released in 2019, it marks Igort's first foray into cinema. The project gathers Toni Servillo in the lead, supported by Valeria Golino and Carlo Buccirosso, with a production that leans into the visual sensibility of the creator's comics.

Worldwide gross was $544,436. The release was limited to art houses and select international markets, with positive reception among Italian critics, though the film found a niche audience abroad.

The film stands out in its stark, pared down depiction of crime and loyalty, anchored by Servillo's measured performance. While not a global phenomenon, it has sparked conversations about the moral gray areas of revenge and the toll it takes on families and communities. Shots linger on expressions rather than explosions, inviting viewers to read between the lines. The result is a mood piece that values character over spectacle and keeps the Camorra within a human scale.

Critics have praised its restrained pace and the way the plot unfolds through quiet dialogue and faces. The film explores how loyalty to family can collide with ethical boundaries, showing revenge as a chain that hurts not just individuals but entire communities.