The Trial Begins (2007)
"L'ora di punta" (original title)

Filippo, a cold-hearted customs and tax investigator, shakes down business owners. With the blessings of his boss, he leaves his job to become a private investor with inside information on ... See full summary »

Director:

Vincenzo Marra

Writer:

Vincenzo Marra

Stars:

Fanny Ardant, Michele Lastella, Giulia Bevilacqua

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fanny Ardant	...	Caterina
Michele Lastella	...	Filippo
Giulia Bevilacqua	...	Francesca
Augusto Zucchi	...	Comandante Salvi
Antonio Gerardi	...	Donati
Barbara Valmorin	...	Anna
Nicola Labate	...	Patrizi
Maurizio Tesei	...	Prisco
Sergio Di Giulio	...	Bussi
Giacomo Piperno	...	Rizzi
Chiara Tomaselli	...	Segretaria di Filippo
Loredana Martínez	...	Segretaria di Donati
Viviana Polic	...	Donna Elegante
Claudio Spadaro	...	Altro ufficiale
Diego Verdegiglio	...	Sassi

Storyline

Filippo, a cold-hearted customs and tax investigator, shakes down business owners. With the blessings of his boss, he leaves his job to become a private investor with inside information on distressed and undervalued properties. His boss advises him to have an entrée into high society, so he seduces Caterina, an older woman with social connections. She believes he loves her. He has an obsession for an old girlfriend, Francesca: can he succeed in winning back her affection, how will Caterina react, and how far will he go to protect his racket?

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Plot Keywords:

boss | government official | banker | apartment building | ex girlfriend | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

7 September 2007 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Trial Begins

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

French Connection, The, Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (MiBAC), R&C Produzioni

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

A welcome throwback

Back in the 1970s political corruption was one of Italian cinema's most popular themes. When the industry collapsed in the '80s, however, the theme disappeared with it - but thanks to 2007's The Trial Begins is apparently on the comeback trail. Written and directed by Vincenzo Marra, the film stars Michele Lastella as Filippo, an eager beaver young cop looking to make his mark by cracking down on corrupt businessmen and bent politicians. When he meets vivacious (and rich) older woman Caterina (Fanny Ardant), however, he finds himself being pulled into her world of back-scratching and under-the-table deal-making. Marra's film provides brilliant and searing commentary on the state of Italian governance, and in a country ruled by a profligate oligarch whose hands are in every pot couldn't be more timely.