The Guilty
Valerio Rossello is a judge, with a rigid and uncompromising mentality. He is married to Lucia, a woman who instead follows the model of a loving and protective mother. From their union only one child was born: Maurizio. Both parents raise him completely differently, highlighting their character differences. Until the day when Maurizio, now a teenager, together with a friend commits an attack for futile reasons against a gas station attendant. Having learned of the incident, Valerio and Lucia also in this case intend to face the situation in a diametrically opposite way. The conflicts within the family thus strongly resurface, in which, amidst rebounds of responsibility, the errors of both parents emerge in the upbringing of their child.
Insights
Plot Summary
In post-war Germany, a former SS officer turned informant for the British intelligence agency is blackmailed by a former Gestapo colleague. He finds himself in a perilous situation where his life and the lives of those he cares about are threatened.
Critical Reception
The Guilty was a modest production that received a mixed to positive reception upon its release. Critics noted its tense atmosphere and Bogarde's strong performance, though some found the plot somewhat predictable. It is often regarded as a competent example of a post-war thriller with noir elements.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its suspenseful narrative and efficient direction.
- Dirk Bogarde delivers a compelling performance as a man under immense pressure.
- The film effectively captures a sense of post-war paranoia and moral ambiguity.
Google audience: Audience reception data for 'The Guilty (1957)' on Google is not readily available for a precise summary.
Fun Fact
The film was shot on location in and around Hamburg, Germany, providing an authentic backdrop to the post-war setting.
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