Cadaveri Eccellenti (aka Illustrious Corpses) (1976)

Set during a period of intense political unrest in Italy, a detective (Lino Ventura) is assigned to investigate the mysterious murders of some supreme court judges. But what at first seems a case of revenge morphs into a political conspiracy. Based on the novel IL CONTESTO by Leonardo Sciascia and directed by Francesco Rosi (THE MATTEI AFFAIR). Winner of the David Di Donatello (the Italian Oscar) for best picture and best director, I wouldn't call this a political thriller (frankly there aren't that many "thrills") as much as a political murder mystery. I found it more Agatha Christie than Z (1969). But whatever one calls it, it's an excellent film about uncovering a government turning into a police state. Its bleak ending with no catharsis, just a sad truth (the film's last line is "Truth is not always revolutionary") leaves no room for hope, just despair. Ventura's solid performance anchors the film. With Max Von Sydow, Fernando Rey, Renato Salvatori, Marcel Bozzuffi, Charles Vanel, Alain Cuny and Tina Aumont.