Robbing Mussolini

Milan, 1945: The Second World War is still in full swing, including in Italy, where German troops are fighting local partisans. Amidst the ever-present chaos, Isola ( Pietro Castellitto ) is also trying to make ends meet. One day he learns of a large pot of gold that is said to be in Mussolini’s quarters. And where there is gold, someone always wants to steal it. So he teams up with a few others and comes up with a plan to take the fortune before it falls into the wrong hands. Time is of the essence because the dictator wants to make off with the treasure…

There is almost nothing else in crime fiction, and it is not uncommon in action films or thrillers either. However, making the criminals the protagonists and having the audience cheer them on inevitably entails the need for justification. There must be some reason why you should switch sides yourself. With Robbing Mussolini, the problem is solved by making the thieves themselves criminals, or at least so despicable that there are no moral objections. As long as it only hits the “right” people, people are happy to turn a blind eye. This is also the case with The Duce’s Treasure. Because if you can’t steal from Mussolini, who can?

The dictator himself does not appear at all. Director and co-writer Renato De Maria prefers to focus on the troupe and their various efforts to get the treasure. As with other Heist Movies, we watch Isola and the others hatch various schemes, recruit people, and look for ways to get lots of gold unnoticed – and with impunity. The financial aspect doesn’t seem to be that important in The Duce’s Treasure. Instead, the film Robbing Mussolini feels like it’s some sort of game of defying all odds and getting one over on your opponent. The treasure itself is welcome, but more of a means to an end.

• Robbing Mussolini