NON SONO UN ASSASSINO/I ‘M NOT A KILLER

Italy, 2019, 110 minutes, Colour.

Riccardo Scamarcio, Alessio Boni, Edoardo Pesce, Claudia Gravini.

Directed by Andrea Zaccariello.

A strong and complex Italian drama about a policeman who has served 20 years and is arrested for the murder of his longtime friend and police chief. Film opens with a phone call, the friend reaching out to the policeman after two years, wanting to consult him about a case.

The circumstances of the killing immediately implicate the policeman, an old man working on a cactus observing him, his car being seen leaving the scene, the precision of the time and movements. The policeman is arrested.

The structure of the film is quite complex, the main action taking place in the present but continued flashbacks to the relationship between the two men and their other friend, a lawyer, now being asked by the policeman to defend him. And the screenplay puts strong emphasis on the prosecuting judge, her determination in the case, and her assistant who has a past history of conflict with the accused policeman.

And in the flashbacks, the audience is taken back to young men and their meeting, their friendship, their ambitions, and a key to a draw in the murdered man’s desk, passing from one to the other, in the hope that no one will open the drawer – but, eventually the draw is opened and a message about selling one’s soul to the devil revealed.

There are complications about relationships, the accused policeman being something of a womaniser, his relationship with his ex-wife, with his daughter and her presence during the trial. The lawyer gets some advice, goes to the scene, takes photos of possible line of vision from the cactus plantation to the murdered man’s house, important for the credibility of the witness.

There are Mafia connections and background and, a twist that many might have anticipated bringing the film to a sombre conclusion.

1. The title and expectations? Crime, the arrest, the investigation, the trial, the verdict? The aftermath?
2. The background of the Mafia, police corruption, judges and assassinations, power behind the scenes?
3. The Italian cities, police precincts, the courts, homes, holiday locations, the coast? The musical score?
4. The opening, Francesco, the Asian resort? The structure of the film, the sequences in the present, the phone call, Francesco’s reaction, driving, meeting his friend, leaving, news of the death? The arrest, the Judge and her assistant and reactions? The interrogations, the witness, Giorgio as the lawyer, his background, just go in jail, the focal at the airport, the professor, the contact with the prisoner, the characters, Giorgio and his investigations, the photos, the testimony in court, the verdict? Francesco and his protests of innocence? His relationship with his ex-wife, former companions, his daughter?
5. The structure of the film, the range of flashbacks, building up a picture of the three friends, University, their meetings, Georgio and his not being left anything by his father in America, Giovanni and his serious approach, their meetings, sharing, music? The issue of the key, never to be opened, passing from one to the other? Their careers, Francesco and 20 years of police work, Giovanni as a judge? Giorgio, attracted to Alice, drinking, wanting to be a singer? Their all coming together with the crime?
6. The judge, her determination, confrontations with Francesco, his responses? Michele, their working together in the past, Michele and his grudges, criticising Francesco, Francesco answering back? The speeches in the court, the new evidence of the photos, losing the case?
7. Francesco, the scenes with his wife and daughter, his dalliances with the other women, the underaged escort, her coming to the door and exerting pressure? Francesco and his reputation with women, with Alice? The friendship with Giovanni over the years, but leaving his office, no contact for two years? Making friends again with Georgio, relying on him in the court case?
8. Issues of police corruption, the final flashbacks, Francesco and the dossier on him, shooting Giovanni, taking the photo, opening the drawer and finding the message about selling oneself to the devil?
9. Georgio and rehabilitation, his letter to Alice, her coming to him? Francesco’s former wife coming to the door – an open question?
10. Francesco, in Asia, the life of luxury, his visit to the Mafia chief, warned to disappear?