Il nibbio

Alessandro Tonda's "Il nibbio" (2025) attempts to deliver a gripping thriller, but ultimately falls flat, delivering a lukewarm and utterly unmemorable cinematic experience. The film suffers from a severe lack of narrative tension, meandering aimlessly through predictable plot points and contrived action sequences without ever truly generating genuine suspense. The supposed "high stakes" feel artificial and unearned, lacking the raw tension necessary to engage the audience. Despite earnest efforts from the cast, the dialogue often feels clichéd and functional, as if the writers simply strung together a series of dramatic moments without any regard for natural conversation or compelling character development. Instead of a fresh and exciting thriller, it offers a superficial and often irritating spectacle of forced thrills.

Is it worth watching? No, unless you have an exceptionally high tolerance for formulaic thrillers and a desire to see a predictable narrative unfold. There are far more engaging and genuinely thrilling films available.

Il Nibbio is a well meaning political drama that tells an important story but occasionally falls into predictable patterns.

The film lacks the narrative boldness one might expect from such a tense and emotional subject.

However, the performances by Claudio Santamaria and Sonia Bergamasco are truly outstanding.

He brings quiet strength and depth to the role of Nicola Calipari, offering a portrayal that feels both grounded and moving.

She as Giuliana Sgrena is equally compelling, capturing vulnerability and resilience with subtlety and truth.

While the direction remains safe and the script sometimes repetitive, the emotional weight carried by its two leads makes the film worth watching.

They are the heart of the story and give it life.

Il Nibbio, directed by Alessandro Tonda, undeniably deserves credit for honoring the sacrifice of General Nicola Calipari. The film's intent is noble, shedding light on a crucial chapter in Italian history, but it struggles to deliver a compelling cinematic experience. One of its main shortcomings lies in the lack of a well-developed narrative arc for the characters. The protagonists remain relatively flat, with little emotional or psychological growth, making it difficult for the audience to fully engage with their journey.

Another notable flaw is the dialogue, which often feels overly contrived and excessively didactic. Instead of allowing the emotions and themes to emerge naturally, the script relies on heavy-handed exposition, which detracts from the film's dramatic impact. The result is a monotone narrative that, despite its inherently tragic subject matter, fails to evoke the depth of emotion it aspires to.

That said, Il Nibbio does benefit from a relatively concise runtime of under two hours, which prevents it from becoming overwhelmingly tedious. While it may lack the nuance and narrative strength to make it truly memorable, the film ultimately succeeds in its primary goal: paying tribute to the memory of "Il Nibbio," the code name of General Calipari. Despite its flaws, it remains a respectful homage to an important figure in Italy's recent history, ensuring that his story is not forgotten.

I couldn't get to grips with this film. The whole thing was mysterious. I couldn't work out the context. What was the politics of the situation? What were the hostage-takers hoping to gain from their assault? Why was this particular woman taken hostage? Who was the negotiator? Why did we have scenes with his wife and children? There were lots of well dressed men who didn't look like military personnel or bureaucrats or diplomats or journalists though some were meeting in important-looking boardrooms. It was not clear to me where they were or who they were or what they were planning to do about the hostage situation. Why was the hostage put in a room which looked like a large modern hotel room with (presumably) an ensuite bathroom? Why was some of the dialogue in English with no Italian subtitles? So the film wasn't meant to be for an Italian audience? The script needed to be vastly better for those outside Italy to make sense of the story.

Some previous reviewers say that this film is predictable: but this is not a fantasy super-hero story, but the real story of a true man who sacrificed his life to save a journalist. For me it has been one of the most compelling and moving films of last years. It balances the action and suspense (knowing the real story I still felt the supense) with a warm depiction of the family life of the protagonist Nicola Calipari. It is all true, and this -besides the good acting and the good production- makes this film absolutely worth watching.