Update on Michele Placido's CRIME NOVEL (ROMANZO CRIMINALE), starring Kim Rossi Stuart, Anna Mouglal

Michele Placido's Crime Novel (Romanzo criminale) has been selected for the Competition programme of the 56th Berlin International Film Festival. Warner Bros. Pictures Italia - a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia S.p.A. - released the movie theatrically in Italy on September 30th of last year.

As was reported here on ScreenAnarchy back on June 30th of last year, there's a downloadable English-subtitled trailer for Crime Novel on the website of international sales agent TF1 International SA. There's a different downloadable trailer in Italian for Crime Novel on the official website for the movie. (See the bottom of this article for links to the trailers and official website.)

The screenplay for Crime Novel (Romanzo criminale) was written by Stefano Rulli, Sandro Petraglia, and Giancarlo De Cataldo in collaboration with Placido, based on a story by Rulli, Petraglia, and De Cataldo that itself was based on the eponymous novel Romanzo criminale by De Cataldo. The movie stars Kim Rossi Stuart as Freddo, Anna Mouglalis as Patrizia, Pierfrancesco Favino as Lebanese, Claudio Santamaria as Dandy, Stefano Accorsi as Police Lieutenant Scialoia, Riccardo Scamarcio as Nero, and Jasmine Trinca as Roberta.

Below is a synopsis and treatment for Crime Novel from this page for the movie on TF1 International's site. BTW, those who are interested in Crime Novel may also wish to read this ScreenAnarchy article on Michele Soavi's Arrivederci amore, ciao.

Synopsis

Thanks to strategic deals with the Sicilian Mafia, right-wing terrorists and secret government organizations, three childhood friends will rise from the streets to run organized crime and finally, conquer the underworld of the Italian capital. Throughout the years, the three friends are being hunted by Police Lieutenant Scialoia, whose ambition takes a personal turn when he gets involved with Patrizia, the most beautiful and most powerful call girl in Rome, but also Dandy's mistress.

Treatment

Award-winning actor-director Michele Placido (Un Viaggio chiamato Amore / A Journey Called Love) brings to the screen Giancarlo De Cataldo's best-selling novel, freely adapted by Stefano Rulli and Sandro Petraglia, the acclaimed writers of successful La Meglio Gioventu / The Best of Youth.

Set in the violent 70s and 80s when corruption racked Italy's institutions and gangsters terrorized the citizen of the country's major cities, Romanzo Criminale is based on the true story of three childhood friends who set out to conquer the streets of Rome.

Starring an amazing selection of Italy's hottest stars, including Stefano Accorsi (La Stanza del Figlio / The Son's Room, Un Viaggio chiamato Amore), Kim Rossi Stuart (Le Chiavi di Casa, Pinocchio, Al di la delle Nuvole / Beyond The Clouds), Claudio Santamaria (La Stanza del Figlio, L’Ultimo Bacio, Besieged) and Riccardo Scamarcio (La Meglio Gioventu), alongside beautiful French femme fatale Anna Mouglalis (Novo, Nightcap), Romanzo Criminale is an epic tale of friendship, love and betrayal in the violent world of organized crime.

The film is set at a time when the secret links between politicians, the Mafia and business unleashed an uncontrollable spiral of violence across Italy. The story spans terrible moments in Italian history, such as Aldo Moro's abduction and assassination, and the Bologna train station bombing. Action-packed and superbly scripted, Romanzo Criminale was shot over 17 weeks on location and in studio and will be one of the most memorable movies of 2005.

A vivid, ferocious movie, deeply rooted in one of modern Italy's most controversial and violent periods, Romanzo Criminale deals with universal issues and moral dilemmas in a roller-coaster ride of passion, action and emotion.

Crime Novel trailer #1 (Italian w/ English subtitles; downloadable 5.3 MB WMV file)
Crime Novel trailer #2 (Italian w/o subtitles; downloadable 5.5 MB MOV file)
Crime Novel trailer #2 (Italian w/o subtitles; downloadable 5.3 MB WMV file)
Crime Novel official website
Variety: Review of Crime Novel