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Rating: "We thought we were right, but we were wrong. Only we didn't know it then..."
Italy, the '70s. Often, the fingers of one or both hands became symbols. The "witches" would join their thumbs and index fingers extended to the limit to claim their most powerful weapon of defense and/or attack on the world.
The "leftist" protesters would extend their thumb to the limit, join the index and middle fingers, and curl the ring and pinky fingers into the palm of the right or left hand. This was to claim the P 38, a weapon valid for eliminating a political enemy, a "fascist." The other hand often held the pole of a flag, a banner, or wielded a Hazet brand wrench, no. 36, for the same reason. Those were the years of violence. Blind, useless, vain, crazy, absurd.
Sergio Segio was one of those militants who believed they were making a just revolution. One of those who shouted slogans often recurring in the extra-parliamentary political demonstrations of the time. Like: "You will pay dearly, you will pay for everything!" or "Hazet 36, fascist where are you?" Crazy stuff. You could be KILLED or BEATEN TO A PULP if you committed certain crimes, like daring to wear a parka, a keffiyeh, desert boots, being suspected of belonging to the reds or the blacks, frequenting that bar, or living in that neighborhood. Crimes of the penal code, to be condemned. Then.
Many innocents paid for that utterly stupid and totally senseless violence. Passersby walking their dogs, judges, police officers, bartenders, students paid the price. "Prima Linea" wanted to emulate the Red Brigades: same leaflets, same criminal actions, same objectives, same claims. Unfortunately, the BR were something else entirely, they also had ties and coverages high up, VERY high up. People who claimed and fought for communism but didn't understand a damn thing about communism. What could you expect if THE STATE was also protecting them? Pages we'd like to forget but can't.
A great film by the young but very interesting Renato De Maria, who with uncommon courage, tells a difficult story, one that we wish could be erased. The use of cold colors and fairly bare scenography is totally spot on to evoke the bleak (it's exactly the right word) cold and heavy atmosphere of those years. Good settings and interesting is also the choice to have the film flow with alternating narration, from the terrorist's memories in prison to the terrorist actions just narrated, from archival footage to the planning of Susanna Ronconi's escape, Segio's partner, from the easily conquerable prison of Rovigo. Some scenes are truly touching and at the same time infamous, which is due to their intelligent placement in the editing and the director's ability to touch the heart. Witness the murder of Judge Alessandrini after the last caress to his little son at the school entrance or the amazement of the passerby chasing the dog before a car bomb explosion in the escape sequence.
Good performance by Scamarcio even though almost completely devoid of pathos. Beautiful Mezzogiorno, pure, sweetly violent (sorry for the oxymoron) and at times too "silent." To those idiots, to use a euphemism, who attacked the film without watching it, accusing it of "glorifying terrorism," I suggest sticking their tongue into a famous cave and speaking with judgment. This film is quite the opposite, and you just have to remember the statements of Scamarcio/Segio at the start of the film to understand it.
The list of victims from those years is long and I'm sorry not to list everyone to honor them. To that end, I dedicate this review to those who were mentioned or remembered in the film.
To never forget them. Ever.
Milan, December 12, 1969 - PIAZZA FONTANA, Innocents
Milan, May 18, 1973 - VIA FATEBENEFRATELLI POLICE STATION, Innocents
Brescia, May 28, 1974 - PIAZZA DELLA LOGGIA, Innocents
Milan, April 16, 1975 - CLAUDIO VARALLI, Student
Milan, April 17, 1975 - GIANNINO ZIBECCHI, Student
Rome, March 16, 1978 - VIA MARIO FANI, Escort of Hon. Aldo Moro
Milan, January 29, 1979 - EMILIO ALESSANDRINI, Magistrate
Turin, July 18, 1979 - CARMINE CIVITATE, Bartender
Rovigo, January 3, 1982 - ANGELO FURLAN, Passerby
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