The Trial Begins (2007)

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
Kiara Tomaselli	...	Segretaria di Filippo (as Chiara Tomaselli)
Loredana Martinez	...	Segretaria di Donati (as Loredana Martínez)
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 | art gallery owner | inspection | bank loan | apartment building | 

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Genres:

Drama

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User Reviews

Powerful Tale--Told simply--With Magnificence...

I had never seen the actor Michele Lastella prior to this film. I was blown away by his performance. I don't want to sound like I'm overstating here--but he has a rare gift of being able to communicate contradictory emotions simultaneously. As he was courting an older woman--actress Fanny Ardant--I sensed his disdain and his insincerity together. He made me feel his conflict, and let me know that this was manipulation, not genuine caring. Brando could do that but to get me so lost in his work, Lastella must have some new magic or else I am hallucinating. I was fascinated by how easily he played people to get his own way and how later, when his deceptions became clear, how he was able to suspend me between panic and the belief that he was ruthless enough to make it all come out the way he needed it to. In ruthlessness, I seldom find hesitation, once the dye is cast--and Lastella plays it that way. I hope he has a body of work because I want to see more of him.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

7 September 2007 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Trial Begins

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$189,507

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (MiBAC), R&C Produzioni, Rai Cinema

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1