The former chief of homicide (Gian Maria Volonte), now installed in the political crimes division, murders his kinky mistress (Florinda Bolkan) in cold blood. Moreover, he deliberately leaves clues and fingerprints all over her apartment which could identify him as her murderer. His purpose is to show that he is a person above suspicion because of his rank ... and above the law? Almost 35 years later, Elio Petri's brilliant political allegorical thriller has lost none of its dynamic power. Volonte's far right wing policeman is paranoid about left wing "subversives" and their destructive effect on the status of the police state which "protects" citizens from themselves. The film implies that his beliefs have driven him to the madness which perpetuated his crime. More disturbing is the implication that the police state is so corrupt that they would possibly cover up his crime rather than let one of their own be subjected to justice (which is for mere mortals). Petri's script (co-written with Ugo Pirro) is excessive and exaggerated to the point of satire. The memorably jagged score is by Ennio Morricone. Winner of the 1971 best foreign language film Oscar as well as the Grand Jury prize at the Cannes film festival. With Sergio Tramonti, Gianni Santuccio and Orazio Orlando.
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