Una storia semplice (film)
| Una storia semplice | |
|---|---|
| File:Una storia semplice (film).jpg | |
| Directed by | Emidio Greco |
| Starring | Gian Maria Volontè |
| Music by | Luis Enriquez Bacalov |
| Cinematography | Tonino Delli Colli |
Una storia semplice (internationally released as A Simple Story) is a 1991 Italian drama film directed by Emidio Greco. It is based on the novel with the same name written by Leonardo Sciascia.[1] It premiered at the 1991 Venice International Film Festival, in which it entered the main competition.[2] The film was awarded with a Nastro d'Argento for best screenplay, two Globi d'oro for best film and best screenplay and a Grolla d'oro for best actor to the ensamble cast.[3]
Contents
Plot
The Sciascia story unfolds with the arrival in Sicily of a medicine rep from Verona. He is a unaware of being witness to a double murder at a rural railway station and hears of the event on the car radio. He calls on the local police station to help with the enquiries. The police had already discovered the body of a retired ambassador, who had returned after years of absence, to in his remote farmhouse, after calling them to alert them of his discovery of a item (a stolen painting) rolled up in the attic. The police did not call that night as the duty Inspector who left soon after insisted the Brigadiere should tarry as it might be a hoax as he knew the Farmhose to be abandoned. The following day the strange appearance of the retired ambassador's body which appeared to have been a suicide, raises suspicion in the Brigadiere that he may have been murdered. This remains the investigating policeman's opinion but is totally rejected by the Police Commissioner who insists on a simple and uncomplicated suicide. There is a suggestion that the Carabinieri who have also turned up at the crime scene are aware of the alternative theory the Brigadiere had mulled over with the Carabiniere driver and repeated to his superior the Colonel. Meanwhile interrogation of the Veronese witness clarifies that he had not seen the railway staff but their murderers rolling up a "carpet"/ painting in the station. The film follows the investigation as it proceeds with an old friend of the "suicide" a professor Franzo also revealing more on the telephone conversations they had exchanged before the ambassador's death. It looked to the police as though the Farm buildings had been used for criminal activity for some time. The inspector however appeared to be overly familiar with the inside of the Great house and real doubts entered the Brigadiere's mind as to his real involvement in the crime. The Procurator/judge insisted unreasonably the police Commissioner and Carabinieri should give him more and cast iron evidence if he were to proceed with any case, as in his view all he heard were conjectures. The estranged widow and son of the ambassador arrive and the extent of the family rift is evident. They appear to have relied on the local parish priest Don Cricco to oversee the mainly abandoned family properties in the area. The film ends with an accident in which the Inspector and Brigadiere exchange pistol shots, killing the Inspector. The police call it an accident.
Cast
- Gian Maria Volontè: Il professor Franzò
- Massimo Dapporto: Il questore
- Ennio Fantastichini: Il commissario
- Ricky Tognazzi: Il brigadiere Lepri
- Massimo Ghini: Il rappresentante di medicinali con la Volvo
- Paolo Graziosi: Il colonnello dei Carabinieri
- Omero Antonutti: Padre Cricco
- Gianmarco Tognazzi: Il figlio del Roccella
- Gianluca Favilla: Il procuratore
- Tony Sperandeo: Il primo agente
- Giovanni Alamia: Il secondo agente
- Macha Méril: La vedova del Roccella
