Movie spotlight

Placido Rizzotto

Name: Placido Rizzotto
Released: 2000-10-20
Duration: 110 min

2000

Movie

110 min

Italian

As a child, Sicilian Placido Rizzotto saw his father imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, and as a young man he fought in World War II, first as a soldier and then as an anti-fascist partisan. These events have left Placido with little taste for petty tyranny and with a desire to promote social justice. Upon his return home, he becomes increasingly aware that the Mafia has taken hold of his village, witnessing angry and frustrated as gangsters control local politics and take whatever they want from the people. Placido helps to form a trade union as a challenge to the Mafia's authority, and attempts to organize the villagers into a collective to grow crops in the fields taken by the Mafia.

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IMDb7.3/10

Director: Pasquale Scimeca•Genres: Drama, Historical

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the life and tragic death of Placido Rizzotto, a young socialist peasant who fought against the Mafia and the powerful landowners in Sicily during the post-World War II era. Rizzotto was a vocal advocate for land reform and workers' rights, making him a target for the criminal organization. His disappearance and presumed murder became a symbol of the struggle against oppression in the region.

Critical Reception

Placido Rizzotto was generally well-received by critics, who praised its powerful portrayal of a true story and its examination of social injustice in Sicily. The film was commended for its historical accuracy and its moving depiction of Rizzotto's courage and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming opposition.