The only name I recognised in the credits of this one was Fantastichini, whose face has taken on even more character down the years. That made it a surprise, when what turned up on the screen was unfamiliar and convincing.
Moving between colourful Tunis and drab Turin, we follow young cop Briguglia upsetting his colleagues, when he won't help them cheat on their Comissario examination in Arab language. His boss calls him in to tell him to postpone his studies and work with veteran Fantastichini in keeping an Arab, whose trial is coming up, under surveillance. Yes we do know the next bit, where they all buddy up, but the action keeps on changing direction. Playing and settings are convincing and involving.
Cameraman Calvesi's sharp, desaturated Fujicolor is striking and the editing is particularly deft. It leaves you wondering what else all these talented people have been doing.
