This movie reminds me of Romanzo Criminale, the show authored by the director of this movie, another recounting of italian (Roman) criminal history. Both are very compelling, both work well to create a dramatic yet realistic depiction of "bad people"'s life. He doesn't ever fall into gratuitousness by making some character "the innocent guy entered into the wrong circle". Everyone has shades of darkness within, and everyone is also partially redeemable. The politics are mostly accurate in depicting the struggles of ultimately far-right policemen, men of order, men that want to exact justice and destroy all the bad apples of society, but ultimately become bad apples themselves: hated by the people (even by actual far right activists, funnily enough), ignored and treated as disposable by the government. Nobody really likes them, not even they themselves, they're stuck in the middle of a continuous war between a liberal indifferent system and the poor underbelly, the immigrants, the nazis, the hooligans. They're the focus on every blame, they're emotionally collectively isolated and they only have each other. It's a simple but effective narrative that doesn't "redeem" cops, but rather allows you to ponder the human face of the arm of the state, something that all extremists dehumanize. It's also very sad and depressing, the performances are great and really sell the pressure of the policemen's lives. The lighting and direction are very pale and minimal, which accompanies the subject matter pretty well. Overall, a very complete and engaging experience, a thought-provoking political drama that reaches a good equilibrium of poignancy and entertainment.
Review of A.C.A.B. - All Cops Are Bastards
