The documentary investigates the Piazza Fontana bombing and the death of anarchist Giuseppe Pinelli, who was taken in by the Italian police for questioning and whose death is believed by some to have been deliberately caused by members of the police force.[3] Through various interviews conducted throughout Italy, it analyses the political climate of the country. Among those interviewed are workers and militants from the Lotta Continua movement, which Pinelli was a member of, as well as deputy Achille Stuani, member of the Italian Communist Party; Licia Pinelli, Giuseppe's widow, and several lawyers including those who defended Pietro Valpreda, who was arrested for the bombing.[4]
Production
Development
The film was made by Pier Paolo Pasolini on the proposal and with the collaboration of some militants of Lotta Continua, a formation of the communist-oriented far-left.[5] During the making of the film, there were creative differences between Pasolini and the group's management.[5] Pasolini wanted to make a denunciation film which would focus on the anthropological and social aspect of the country during that period.[5][6] The disagreements continued throughout the editing phase.[5]
Pasolini in 1975
Why did I make this film together with a group of young comrades from Lotta Continua? There is certainly a reason, but, to be honest, I can't say. I criticized at the time, violently and perhaps inappropriately, the political action of young people: many of my criticisms have unfortunately turned out to be right, and I do not abjure them. However, it seems to me that the real revolutionary tension is experienced today by far-left minorities. The global and almost intolerant criticism that these express against the Italian state and capitalist society finds me in complete agreement in substance, even if not often in form. Therefore, as long as I am capable, and have the strength, it is them that I side with...
— Pier Paolo Pasolini in Cinema in the Form of Poetry, Pordenone, Cinemazero, 1979; p. 97[7]
In an interview with Panorama on 31 December 1970, Pasolini mentioned Attacco al Power (Attack on Power) and 1969 among the film's provisional titles.[4]
Filming
Filming began on December 12, 1970 and concluded in June of the following year.[5] It took place in the quarries of Carrara, in Milan, Viareggio, Naples and at the Musocco cemetery, Pinelli's burial place.[5] The film was financed by Alberto Grimaldi.[6]
Editing
During filming, 80,000m of film was used,[8] but only 4000m was edited; the remainder is considered lost.[4] The montage was carried out entirely by Pasolini.[4]
Soundtrack
The music in the film was composed by Pino Masi, then a member of Lotta Continua.[9]
Credits
In order to avoid any potential problems with the law, Pasolini and Grimaldi decided to leave their names out of the film's credits.[4]
The shortened version of the film is available on YouTube.[11]
Home video edition
The shortened version was released in 1995 on VHS and in 2011 on DVD.[5]
Full version
In 2013, the full version of the film, considered lost, was found in a film archive in Hamburg.[12] This version, after being restored by the German publishing house Laika Verlag and the Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna,[6] was screened in Bologna in 2015 during the Cinema Ritrovato event.[13]
Reception
Il Morandini gives the film 3 stars out of 5.[5] The documentary was reviewed by Alberto Moravia on 30 April 1972 in L'Espresso.[4]
