The story, based on the novel Il Contesto by Leonardo Sciascia, is satisfyingly complex and intelligent. Top judicial people are being killed in Italy and behind it is a rightist plot to discredit dissidents that involves the Italian Communist Party. Rosi directs commandingly in great style, achieving great intensity, focus and power. The story is always timely and relevant, with its moral that power corrupts a perennially important one. And it is hard to imagine a better cast for a Seventies European art film.
