A Simple Story

The film opens with a medicine representative arriving from Verona to rural Sicily. He later realizes he witnessed a double murder at a railway station when he hears news on his car radio. He contacts the local police to offer assistance with the inquiries.

Police discover the body of the retired ambassador at his remote farmhouse, after he had reported the discovery of a painting rolled in the attic. The body appears initially as a suicide but suspicions of foul play arise as the investigation proceeds. The painting is central to the case.

The duty inspector suggests the ambassador's death is a suicide, prompting skepticism from other investigators. The police commissioner rejects the murder theory in favor of a simple explanation, complicating the pursuit of truth. Carabinieri show awareness of an alternative theory behind the scenes.

Interrogation of the Verona medicine rep clarifies that he did not see railway staff at the scene, but instead saw the murderers rolling up a painting in the station. This revelation reframes the crime as more complex and ties the painting to the evidence. The rep's testimony advances the investigation.

The investigator turns to an old friend of the deceased, Professor Franzo, who reveals more about the telephone conversations they had exchanged before the ambassador's death. His information adds a personal dimension to the crime and hints at prior connections. The professor's presence straddles intellectual insight and possible complicity.

Early suspicion grows that the farm buildings had been used for criminal activity for some time, suggesting a larger network. The investigation digs into the infrastructure surrounding the estate to locate hidden rooms or resources. The inspector's observations foreshadow deeper involvement within the estate.

The inspector, who seems overly familiar with the layout of the main house, raises doubts about his own possible involvement. Brigadiere questions the inspector's motives as the case becomes entangled with personal history. The dynamic between the two officers becomes a critical tension point.

The judge insists that the police provide cast-iron evidence if any case is to move forward, dismissing mere conjecture. This prompt tension influences how the investigation proceeds and places pressure on officials to produce solid proof. The political and legal pressure complicates the inquiry.

The estranged widow and son arrive at the scene, revealing a deep family rift. They reveal tensions and dependence on the local parish priest Don Cricco to oversee the family properties in the area. Their presence reframes the motive and potential alignments, as family dynamics intersect with property control.

The parish priest Don Cricco is revealed as the overseer of the mostly abandoned family properties, highlighting how the church and local administration intersect with the case. His influence hints at hidden networks and possible protective silence around wrongdoing. The priest's position adds social context to the investigation.

The film culminates in an accident where the Inspector and Brigadiere exchange pistol shots, killing the Inspector. The police call it an accident, but the fatal confrontation seals the tragedy and leaves the truth unresolved. The ending blurs moral lines and questions accountability within the force.