Being an ignorant non-Italian, I'd never heard of Enrico Mattei before seeing this film. Now that I've watched The Mattei Case, I feel compelled to know more! Gian Maria Volonte is outstanding as a left-wing oil tycoon whose determination to keep petrol proceeds out of the hands of private multinationals made him enemies in big business and organized crime. The film plays a bit like a Costa-Gavras political thriller, and it's interesting to see director Francesco Rosi in a sizable cameo as a filmmaker trying to make a film about Mattei! Though the film was designed specifically for Italian audiences, it's story of greed, corruption, and resource wars seems entirely contemporary. Also of note: Piero Piccioni's claustrophobic musique concret score.
Review of The Mattei Affair
