Le mani sulla città (Die Hände über der Stadt)

Naples, 1963. In the post-war reconstruction years, the city is a chessboard for the games of corrupt politics and various power interests. The building contractor Edoardo Nottola (played very impressively by Rod Steiger) is speculating on an urban expansion project. During construction work by his company, a residential building collapses in a poor neighbourhood of Naples. Following protests by the opposition, an inquiry commission is set up by the city council, but its work fizzles out. Nottola knows how to make allies. He has the entire neighbourhood cleared on grounds of dilapidation and even intends to stand for election as head of the building department.
Francesco Rosi’s famous film offers a gripping glimpse behind the scenes of the sinister intertwining of economic and political power in 1960s Italy. The parallels with today are obvious. LE MANI SULLA CITTÁ won the Golden Lion at the 1963 Venice Film Festival and features on the list of ‘100 Film italiani da salvare’.