Caliber 9

Caliber 9

Year: 2011

Runtime: 83 mins

Language: French

Director: Jean-Christian Tassy

ActionThrillerDrama

In a corrupt French town, naive urban planner Yann comes into possession of a 9 mm handgun whose soul belongs to Sarah, a murdered prostitute. Together they methodically eliminate the city’s criminals, seeking to restore order by targeting the entire corrupt network and ultimately bringing down the mayor, the mastermind behind the pact.

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Timeline & Setting – Caliber 9 (2011)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Caliber 9 (2011). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Milan, Italy, Bowling alley, Rural estate off Milan, Abandoned church near Milan

The story unfolds around Milan and its shadowy criminal underworld. Key scenes bounce between a bustling bowling alley where exchanges happen, a secluded rural estate where the Americano hides, and an abandoned church off Milan that holds the final payoff. These locations establish a gritty, metropolitan backdrop for double-crosses and deadly rivalries. The contrast between the city’s public face and its opaque criminal networks is central to the film’s mood.

🏙️ Urban crime 💸 Money and power 🕵️‍♂️ Betrayal and deception

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:57

Main Characters – Caliber 9 (2011)

Meet the key characters of Caliber 9 (2011), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ugo Piazza

A calculating Milanese gangster freshly released from prison, Ugo drives a long, risky plan to reclaim the $300,000 and outmaneuver his pursuers. He blends charm with ruthless pragmatism, using others as pawns while shielding his true intentions. His willingness to sacrifice allies demonstrates a cold, survival-driven mindset.

🧠 Clever 🗡️ Calculating 🕶️ Cautious

The Americano (The Mikado)

A powerful American launderer who exerts ruthless control over the underworld and twists others to serve his interests. He underestimates Piazza at his peril, and his need for dominance precipitates a deadly cascade of betrayals. His downfall comes at the hands of those he trusts least.

💼 Powerful 🧭 Manipulative 🗡️ Ruthless

Rocco

The Americano’s volatile right-hand man, quick to violence and slow to forgive. He embodies a brutal pragmatism, executing orders with little regard for collateral damage. Rocco’s brutality helps escalate the conflict and catalyze the film’s most shocking betrayals.

🔥 Violent 🧾 Loyal 🌀 Impulsive

Nelly Bordon

Piazza’s girlfriend, a go-go dancer who initially believes Piazza stole the money. She becomes entangled in a web of deception with Luca, ultimately steering a betrayal that shifts the balance of power. Her choices contribute to the film’s tragic reversal of fortunes.

💃 Flirtatious 💔 Jealous 💰 Opportunistic

Don Vincenzo

The blind former godfather and Piazza’s uneasy link to an older, fading era of crime. He’s marked by a stubborn loyalty to those who once served him, and his murder signifies the ruthless pragmatism that dominates the underworld. His life stands as a reminder of the cost of betrayal.

👁️ Blind 🕊️ Respectful 🧭 Wise

Chino

A loyal capo who refuses to abandon his godfather, embodying a steadfast but ultimately tragic loyalty. His presence anchors the old guard amidst a shifting power structure, and his actions precipitate one of the story’s fatal confrontations. Chino’s fate underscores the peril of loyalty without safety nets.

🗡️ Loyal 🧭 Calculating 🧱 Stoic

Luca

Nelly’s secret lover who conspires with her to seize the money for themselves. His betrayal triggers a deadly chain reaction, culminating in a violent confrontation that exposes the fragility of trust. Luca’s duplicity drives the narrative toward its grim conclusion.

💔 Betrayer 🔫 Calculating 🕳️ Sneaky

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:57

Major Themes – Caliber 9 (2011)

Explore the central themes of Caliber 9 (2011), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Betrayal

Betrayal permeates the underworld's code, where alliances shift as quickly as loyalties. Piazza manipulates others to reclaim the money, while Rocco and The Americano’ s crew betray or kill to protect their own interests. Don Vincenzo’s death marks a brutal breach of trust that reshapes every character’s next move. The final twists reveal that most players are exploiting one another to stay ahead.

💰 Money and Power

Money is the primary currency driving every action, from the original theft to the modern-day plots to control the fortune. The bag containing $300,000 becomes the focal point around which motives coagulate and violence erupts. Wealth buys influence, but it also corrupts and entangles, turning friends into enemies and vice versa. The pursuit of wealth ultimately redefines each character’s leverage and fate.

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 03:57

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about Systemic Corruption like Caliber 9

Stories where institutions are rotten and no one escapes the cycle of greed.For viewers who liked the ruthless power struggles and pervasive moral decay in Caliber 9. This collection features similar gritty thrillers and dramas where characters battle against—or become consumed by—rotten institutions, from city halls to criminal empires.

cynicalgrittybetrayalpower strugglemoral decaytensebleaknihilistic

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow characters attempting to dismantle or survive within a thoroughly corrupt system. The journey is often a downward spiral, revealing that the problem is not a few bad individuals but the entire structure itself, leading to bleak conclusions where true change is impossible.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared focus on institutional rot and the futile struggle against it. They create a cohesive experience through their dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and the common theme that in a corrupt world, idealism is a liability and survival requires moral compromise.

Vengeful Partner Thrillers similar to Caliber 9

A dangerous duo methodically targets a criminal network, bound by a shared goal.If you enjoyed the methodical partnership and revenge plot in Caliber 9, explore these action-thrillers. They feature duos or small groups executing precise plans against powerful adversaries, creating a tense, gritty, and often tragic narrative dynamic.

vengefultensemethodicaldeadly duobetrayalgrittyclaustrophobicparanoid

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves two characters uniting with a singular, destructive purpose. Their campaign is typically planned and executed with steady precision, escalating the stakes and violence. The partnership itself is a central source of tension, often fraught with paranoia and the potential for betrayal, leading to emotionally heavy and bleak conclusions.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific plot engine: a vengeful partnership driving the action. They are connected by a steady, tense pacing, high intensity from systematic confrontations, and a dark tone that explores the moral costs of pursuing justice through violence.

Unlock the Full Story of Caliber 9

Don't stop at just watching — explore Caliber 9 in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Caliber 9 is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Caliber 9 Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Caliber 9, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Caliber 9 Summary

Caliber 9 Timeline

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Caliber 9 Timeline

Caliber 9 Spoiler-Free Summary

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Caliber 9 Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Caliber 9

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