On 10 March 1937, in Palermo, the clerk Tommaso Scalia (Ennio Fantastichini) that was the scapegoat for embezzlement in the Confederation Building kills with a bayonet his former chief, the lawyer Spadafora Vincenzo (Tuccio Musumeci), and his replacement, the accountant Speciale Antonio. Then he drives his car through a lonely road and rapes and executes his wife with a shot on her head. He goes to trial expecting to receive the capital punishment, but Judge Vito Di Francesco (Gian Maria Volonté) that is against the death penalty finds evidences that the murder has a passionate motive. However, the defendant wants to be executed by the firing squad in an eccentric situation.
"Porte Aperte" has the intention of discussing the capital punishment, using the Fascist Italy as background and a judge that does not agree with this sentence that serves to politicians but not to the citizens in his opinion. The theme is disclosed in slow pace and using a very unusual situation, with the defendant declaring himself guilty and wishing to be executed by the firing squad. Gian Maria Volonté has a great performance, as usual, but this movie is confused and boring. In Brazil, it was released on VHS by Top Tape Distributor. My vote is five.
Title (Brazil): "As Portas da Justiça" ("The Doors of the Justice")
