The City Stands Trial

At the turn of the century, in Naples, Judge Spicacci arrests influential members of the Mafia for two murders. The trial promises to be tough since the mobsters have friends in high places. The Judge is reluctant to assume the thankless job and tries to get taken off the case. But he finally changes his mind and resolves to see the trial through to the end. The film's subject was the outcome of an initiative by Francesco Rosi, who got the idea from the Cuocolo trial, the first legal action against numerous exponents of the Neapolitan Camorra. (Venice International Film Festival)