Confessions Of A Police Captain

Confessions of a Police Captain
Italian film poster
Directed by	Damiano Damiani
Screenplay by	Damiano Damiani Salvatore Laurani
Story by	Damiano Damiani Fulvio Gicca Palli
Produced by	Mario Montanari Bruno Turchetto
Starring	Franco Nero Martin Balsam Marilù Tolo Claudio Gora Arturo Dominici Michele Gammino Luciano Lorcas Giancarlo Prete Adolfo Lastretti
Cinematography	Claudio Ragona
Edited by	Antonio Siciliano
Music by	Riz Ortolani
Production companies	Euro International Films Explorer Film '58
Distributed by	Euro International Films
Release date	26 March 1971 (1971-03-26)
Running time	101 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian

The film won the Golden Prize at the 7th Moscow International Film Festival in 1971 and the Prix lntemational de l'Academie du Cinema at the Étoile de Cristal Awards in 1972.

Police Captain Bonavia (Balsam) arranges the release of a criminally insane prisoner, Michele Lipuma, who immediately sets about settling a score with a local construction magnate, Ferdinando Dubrosio. As Bonavia follows Lipuma's initial movements, it becomes clear that Bonavia orchestrated his release for that outcome. Lipuma's attempt to kill Dubrosio fails—Dubrosio was tipped off somehow and left three gunmen in his place...all of whom, including Lipuma, end up dead. D.A. Traini (Nero), energetic and idealistic, takes over the case and is informed by Bonavia of the stranglehold Dubrosio has over the local construction industry, and how he and various government officials game the system for their own benefit. As the case unfolds, Traini realizes that Bonavia masterminded the events as intricately as any criminal, and vows to bring him down. Traini believes whole-heartedly in the system and its officials, refusing to accept corruption of any official, but is countered by Bonavia, who explains that all he has to do to derail Traini is muddy the water with slander.

Central to the overall case is the whereabouts of Lipuma's sister, Serena, who was once involved with Dubrosio and privy to many of the conversations held between Dubrosio and the government officials. As witnesses to Dubrosio's activities tend to disappear, when Bonavia finds Serena, he puts her in a safe house known only to himself. Traini finally decides to start the prosecution of Bonavia, prompting Bonavia to write a full confession, including the murder of Dubrosio, which he then commits while Traini is reading the confession. Bonavia immediately turns himself in, and when the arrest is mentioned on TV, Serena calls the courthouse to enquire...only to have Dubrosio's thugs arrive at the safe house, claiming to be sent by the court. She is unceremoniously killed, encased in a concrete, and incorporated into a local construction project.

From prison, Bonavia questions whether Traini will investigate how Dubrosio found out where Serena was hidden...as it was only after she contacted the courthouse...but Traini refuses to consider any possible collusion between parties. He reassures Bonavia that the system has integrity and will serve justice in the end. Bonavia responds that prison is a different world, and one where Traini holds no influence. Bonavia is duly killed in prison, eliminating the last 'loose thread'. With that, Traini realizes that the word could only have come from the Attorney-General himself, who smugly smiles and asks "Is something wrong?" when finally confronted.

• Franco Nero: Deputy D.A. Traini
• Martin Balsam: Commissioner Bonavia
• Marilù Tolo: Serena Li Puma
• Claudio Gora: District Attorney Malta
• Luciano Catenacci: Ferdinando Lomunno
• Giancarlo Prete: Giampaolo Rizzo
• Arturo Dominici: Lawyer Canistraro
• Michele Gammino: Gammino
• Adolfo Lastretti: Michele Li Puma
• Nello Pazzafini: prisoner

Wild East released this on a limited edition R0 NTSC DVD alongside The Summertime Killer in 2010.