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Information

A.k.a.
Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion
Year
1970
Runtime
115 min.
Director
Elio Petri
Genres
Crime, Drama
Rating *
8.1
Votes *
4,102
Checks
1,694
Favs
253
Dislikes
14
Favs/checks
14.9% (1:7)
Favs/dislikes
18:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. Siskoid's avatar

    Siskoid

    Elio Petri's Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion name-checks Kafka at the end, but it's really a reverse Kafka - not the absurd plight of the person on trial, but the absurd power of the person putting others on trial. Gian Maria Volonté plays an obnoxious police chief who, Columbo-style, kills his lover in the opening sequence and then spends the rest of the film vacillating between "you'll never catch me" and "please catch me already you fools". The idea of police (and other people with power) being above the law certain resonates with our age, and Volonté makes a speech at some point explaining what role the police plays in society, and it's one of the most instructive, insightful things I've heard about the state of affairs some of us are finding themselves in re: law enforcement. As an unnameable once said, a person with power could walk down Main Street and shoot someone in plain sight and not get arrested. I think they proved it since. This film was a big fat warning, more truth than satire at this point. Most interestingly, when we flash back to the relationship between killer and victim, she gets off on his capacity to abuse his power, a good representation of those who would turn a blind eye to these abuses in the name of the status quo. Ennio Morricone's score for this one sounds like it was played on a badly tuned instrument - it knows something is dreadfully wrong with the world. 2 years 11 months ago
  2. jm_london's avatar

    jm_london

    Interesting mix of police procedural, black comedy, erotic games and italian politics of the 70's, all with a kafkian touch. Great acting and brilliant score. A very accurate depiction of Italy's system and burocracy. 6 years 5 months ago
  3. pramodc84's avatar

    pramodc84

    Ennio such a great composer. 8 years 8 months ago
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In 12 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #1 in David di Donatello - Best Italian Film
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    David di Donatello - Bes…

    1
  2. This movie ranks #4 in Cannes Film Festival - Grand Prix
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    Cannes Film Festival - G…

    4
  3. This movie ranks #12 in FilmTV's The Best Italian Films
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    FilmTV's The Best Italia…

    12
  4. This movie ranks #23 in Academy Award - Best International Feature Film
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    Academy Award - Best Int…

    23
  5. This movie ranks #40 in iCheckMovies's 1970s Top 100
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    iCheckMovies's 1970s Top…

    40
  6. This movie ranks #43 in IMDb's 1970s Top 50
    IMDb's 1970s Top 50's icon

    IMDb's 1970s Top 50

    43
  7. This movie ranks #79 in Academy Award - Best International Feature Film Nominees
    Academy Award - Best International Feature Film Nominees's icon

    Academy Award - Best Int…

    79
  8. This movie ranks #112 in Roy Menarini's Il Grande Cinema Italiano
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    Roy Menarini's Il Grande…

    112
  9. This movie ranks #137 in iCheckMovies's Most Favorited
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    iCheckMovies's Most Favo…

    137
  10. This movie ranks #227 in Doubling the Canon
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    Doubling the Canon

    227
  11. This movie ranks #830 in The Criterion Collection
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    The Criterion Collection

    830
  12. This movie ranks #1108 in TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2500
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    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest F…

    1108
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