GLI ULTIMI TRE GIORNI (THE LAST THREE DAYS)

Italy, 1977, 110 minutes, Colour.
Franco Lotterio, Lina Sastri, Claudio Cassinelli.
Directed by Gianfranco Mingozzi.

The Last Three Days is a very arresting film about events during the fascist era in Italy. The setting is Bologna, a young man befriends a boy and in befriending him gives him a gun, urges him to use the gun – and eventually persuades him to make an attempt on the life of Benito Mussolini during a visit to Bologna.

The film has a great deal to say about the fascist era, from the perspective of the 1970s. It recreates the scene, showing the detail of family life, especially the life of the boy and his looking at the world. He has a communist-sympathising father. He is devoted to his aunt. He has troubles and rivalries within the family. However, when he makes friends with the young man, he becomes dependent on him – and is almost brainwashed to make the attempt for the assassination. It fails and he is killed.

The film was originally a two-part miniseries on RAI, made during the period of unrest in Italy in the 1970s, just before the abduction of the prime minister, Aldo Moro and his death.

It was topical in its time – and is very interesting in retrospect.

1. An interesting film? Entertaining? For Italian audiences, non-Italian audiences? A production of R.A.I

2. Audience interest in Mussolini and Fascism? The retrospect of the seventies and the judgment of Fascism, the fears of neo-Fascist movements? The nostalgia for the past, the judgment of history, the warnings? How much was this the tone of this film?

3. The importance of Bologna as the setting? Socialist attitudes and Communist presence in Bologna? The clash with Fascism and Mussolini’s origins in the area? Bologna as a centre of clashes and its place in Fascist history of the twenties and thirties? How well did the film present Bologna of the twenties - the houses, streets, museums, stadiums? The preparations for the visit of Mussolini, processions? The colour style of the film? The Italian musical score and its atmosphere and mood?

4. The film was based on historical events but adapted? The credibility of the persons and the events? The reality of the story and assassination attempts on Mussolini? The heroism of the boy as presented by the film? The endorsement of his attempt? The comment that the fascist situation brought about havoc, madness in people's attitudes, violence? That the ordinary citizens became victims of fascist madness? The question of how necessary this was?

5. The film's focus on the boy and having the audience with him? Interest in him? His being presented as an ordinary lad in Bologna, at school, a reserve for the sports team? His belonging to a Communist-sympathising family? His brother and his attitudes, his father and the printing press, the aunt and her devotion to the cause? Seeing him in the home context, at school, with his friends? The presence of the fascist Ettore? The boy's relationship to Ettore? A boy at an impressionable age emotionally, as regards models and example, of hearing about the political situation and moral judgments?

6. The film’s characterizing him as a boy of his time - the sports, the reserves, his bicycle, friends, the detail of his life at home for example meals, clothes etc.? His girl friend and the telephone call? The party? His devotion to his aunt? The style of the domestic detail and audience interest in this?

7. The film's structure of the three days and the title reference? The preparation of Bologna for the visit of Mussolini? The growing atmosphere of joy, frenzy, fear? How well was this presented as background in the street scenes, crowd scenes, security guards, the repercussions within the family?

8. The portrait of the father, his communist sympathizing, communist newspapers? His printing work and his compromising with the fascist regime? The disillusionment for his son and the way this was presented? Its influence on the boy's action?

9. The boy's devotion to his aunt? An attractive character? Seeing her at work, her socialist sympathies? The clash with Ettore and her nephew? Her fascination for him, cinema outings etc.? The boy's devotion to his aunt and his disappointment in her, suspicion of her? How much did her behaviour influence his reaction and assassination attempt?

10. The background of the police, the security guards? Ettore and his work? His criticisms of fascism and his being an extreme fascist looking for opportunities to put down the ordinary fascists and promote his own cause? His influence on the boy's brother? His criticisms of the boy? His inviting him to the museum, knowledge of his taking the gun, understanding what was going on in the boy's mind? Tempting him with information about the gun and the bullets? His being the winner at the end? The postscript of the film about repressive laws as illustrating Ettore’s cause?

11. The portrait of the brother and the bond between the two brothers? His place in the family? The sports and gym work and the fascist emphasis on this? The rivalry between Ettore and the brother and Ettore pushing him? His indecision yet final joining of the Fascist band? The influence of this on the boy and his assassination attempt?

12. The build-up to the assassination itself, the visit to the shops to buy the bullets and the guns? The visit to the museum and the stealing of the bullets? The previous background of his taking the gun, at home? The seriousness and tension in the boy's feelings and mind?

13. The attempt itself - the party and the children dancing at the party, the contrast with the boy at the stadium and the sports events, his aunt discovering the truth and seeking him and running through the crowds? The boy and his fear, the possibilities of shooting, the crowd crescendo and his attempt?

14. Mussolini being unharmed and his reaction to the attempt? The shooting of the boy and the pathos of his death on the Bologna streets? His aunt? Ettore's presence and the irony of his cause winning?

15. The aftermath of this event - the boy remembered as hero, the repressive laws and their introduction? The audience giving emotional assent to the assassination attempt, the critical judgment on the introduction of repressive laws?