The Front Line (2009)

An Italian man looks back from his jail cell on his youthful exploits as a political extremist with understanding, candour and remorse.

Director:

Renato De Maria

Writers:

Sergio Segio (autobiography "Miccia Corta"), Renato De Maria (screenplay)

Stars:

Riccardo Scamarcio, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Fabrizio Rongione

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Riccardo Scamarcio	...	Sergio Segio
Giovanna Mezzogiorno	...	Susanna Ronconi
Fabrizio Rongione	...	Claudio
Dario Aita
Michele Alhaique	...	Rosario
Jacopo Maria Bicocchi	...	Marco Donat-Cattin
Piero Cardano
Claudia Coli
Francesca Cuttica	...	Federica Meroni
Franco De Maestri	...	(as Franco Demaestri)
Marco Iermanò	...	Willy
Anita Kravos	...	Marina Premoli, la Contessa
Lucia Mascino	...	Loredana Biancamano
Cristina Pasino
Umberto Petranca	...	Roberto Sandalo

Storyline

The tumultuous political events of the late sixties that swept across Europe left a particular mark on Italy. The radical Red Brigades, committed to the violent overthrow of the State, were formed out of the student protests of 1968. Prima Linea was another Italian terrorist organization, founded in the late seventies and even more extreme in its methods. Believing there would be a coup by right-wing elements, a young Italian man, Sergio Segio, goes underground, convinced the use of violence is a necessary choice. There he meets the equally committed Susanna, falls in love and continues to fight the brutal battle of a political extremist. Eventually, Sergio grows disenchanted with the tactics of the Prima Linea, but when Susanna is captured, he resorts to the methods he has learned as a militant to try to spring her from prison.

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Plot Keywords:

years of lead | italy | controversy | terrorism | communism | 

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Diaphana [France] Lucky Red [Italy]

Country:

Italy Belgium UK France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

20 November 2009 (Italy)

Also Known As:

La prima linea

Filming Locations:

Pinerolo, Turin, Piedmont, Italy

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,562,486

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lucky Red, Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF), Les Films du Fleuve

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

California
Written by Gianna Nannini
Sung by the prisoners as the signal for the escape

User Reviews

Quasi documentary political thriller.

This grim, dramatised account of Italy's La Prima Linea, an extremist left wing political faction who saw themselves as combating the excesses of police repression, features jailed Scamarcio (MY BROTHER IS AN ONLY CHILD) telling his participation in the movement at the time of the Aldo Moro kidnapping in which they were not involved. The plot centres on the attack on the prison where his love interest Mezzogiorno (TENDERNESS) and other women members are being held while the movement has lost the sympathy of the workers movements whose interests they claim to represent.

Meetings, raids, actual news coverage and filming in Rome, Milan and Venice fill in his to camera narration. Not one of the best of these though it's sombre presentation does hold attention.

The Dardennes' participation may be noted.