Review of Hands Over the City

Highly charged with energy. That was Italy during the 50ies and 60ies. Rod Steiger channels all this energy into the ambitious bull-like Construction Magnate Nottola, surrounded by a power-cast of Italian actors and extras in what, to date, is the most starkly realistic fake documentary I have EVER set my eyes on! We are plunged into the situation from the word 'go', and Director Rosi musters up all his acumen, concentration, artistry and social x-ray vision... delivering a relentless 'Cinema di Denuncia' masterpiece unique in its kind. Rosi has helmed several near-masterpieces. 'SALVATORE GIULIANO', 'TRE FRATELLI', 'IL CASO MATTEI'... but as time goes by Cinema reveals the true, atemporal, masterpieces. This is one. It won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1963. No wonder. Salvo Randone shines, as usual, as the oily Town Mayor with Democristian Party afiliations and a wily way with words. Steiger is very convincing as an Italian man of power. The film is powerful in ALL fields. Perfect settings and interiors. Pristine, stylish but realistic black and white photography (with great Camerawork by Pasqualino DeSantis), vigorous, if somewhat too incisive, score. Hands on the City is a jewel of Italian cinema. It proves that superficial issues are not necessary to establish the backbone of the peninsular mainstream. That Italian films don't necessarily hinge on the charm of Mastroianni or the attributes of Loren, Cardinale or Ornella Muti. Hats off to Francesco Rosi and Co. THIS film is a worldwide gem!