Diaz - Don’t Clean Up This Blood (2012) Plot Summary Explained

Police stormed the Diaz school because it was being used as a shelter for protesters who had been involved in clashes throughout the night. The school housed dozens of demonstrators, including many who had participated in the protests, as well as journalists documenting the violence. Officers entered the building believing (or claiming) that protesters were barricaded inside and were preparing to resist. The raid resulted in a brutal confrontation that Amnesty International later called the gravest breach of civil liberties in a Western democracy since World War II.

Foreshadowing: The film's earlier depiction of the widespread street clashes throughout Genoa establishes the heightened tension that led police to view the school as a site of resistance.

• diaz school
• g8 summit
• police raid
• genoa 2001
• protesters

Max Flamini, the first assistant chief of Rome's mobile police squad, chose not to order a charge against the Black Block anarchists on the morning of July 21 to avoid implicating the many peaceful demonstrators marching alongside them. He recognized that a charge would catch innocent protesters in the chaos, potentially causing casualties among demonstrators who had every right to be there. His decision was intended to protect peaceful protesters, though it also meant allowing Black Block provocateurs to continue their actions unhindered.

Foreshadowing: Max's morning decision not to act against the Black Block foreshadows the breakdown of police control that escalates as the night progresses.

• max flamini
• black block
• police decision
• g8 summit
• anarchists

Carlo Giuliani was a protester who was shot and killed on July 20-21, 2001, during clashes near the G8 summit in Genoa. He was approaching a police vehicle when shot, and his death became the most emotive symbol of police violence during the protests. His death shocked the nation and intensified media attention on Genoa, setting the tense narrative tone that carries through the entire film. The event marked a turning point in how the protests were perceived and covered.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with the shock of Carlo Giuliani's death, which serves as the catalyst for the intense media coverage and the heightened confrontations that follow.

• carlo giuliani
• death
• g8 protest
• genoa 2001
• killed

During the night of July 21-22, 2001, police forces descended on Diaz High School, which had been converted into a shelter for protesters and journalists. Officers broke into the building and encountered largely peaceful occupants, including many who were injured or seeking safety. Rather than finding armed resistance, they faced students, activists, and media workers. The raid involved severe beatings, use of batons and shields, and the destruction of property. Dozens were arrested, and many more were injured in what became the most notorious incident of the summit.

Foreshadowing: The film builds tension throughout the night, showing the convergence of multiple protagonists toward the school, signaling that the Diaz raid represents the climactic point of the narrative.

• diaz school
• police raid
• brutality
• arrests
• genoa 2001

Luca is a reporter for the Journal of Bologna who travels to Genoa to investigate and verify what happened during the G8 protests, particularly in the wake of Carlo Giuliani's death. He serves as the narrative's connecting thread, moving through the city to gather testimony from witnesses and officials. His perspective allows the film to present multiple viewpoints as he encounters other protagonists whose stories intertwine with his own throughout the chaotic night.

Foreshadowing: Luca's arrival in the morning establishes him as an observer seeking truth, which positions him to witness the consequences that unfold by nightfall.

• luca
• journalist
• reporter
• investigation
• bologna

Alma is a German anarchist who participates directly in the street fighting that erupts during the G8 summit protests. Her perspective provides a vivid thread showing the reality of confrontation between protesters and police. The film follows her involvement as the night grows increasingly volatile, capturing the intensity and danger faced by those engaged in the clashes. Her storyline illustrates the international dimension of the protest movement.

Foreshadowing: Alma's active participation in the early clashes establishes her as someone deeply embedded in the protest action, making her eventual fate at Diaz school emotionally significant.

• alma
• german
• anarchist
• clashes
• protester

Marco is a member of the Social Forum and Franci is a lawyer for the Genoa Legal Forum. Together, they spend the night searching for protesters who have gone missing during the chaos. They gather information, coordinate with other activists, and attempt to locate disappeared demonstrators. Their storyline represents the desperate humanitarian effort to track down people caught up in the violence, highlighting the confusion and breakdown of communication that characterized that night.

Foreshadowing: Their search for the missing foreshadows the uncertainty that surrounds many of the characters as the night progresses and the true scale of violence remains unclear.

• marco
• franci
• social forum
• legal forum
• missing protesters

Anselmo is a veteran activist from the Pensioners' Union who participates in a peaceful march against the G8 summit. His presence illustrates the diverse coalition of protesters, ranging from elderly veterans to young anarchists, all united in opposition to global economic policies. Unlike the younger activists engaged in street fighting, Anselmo represents the tradition of peaceful demonstration, highlighting the tension between non-violent protest and the violent confrontations that erupt.

Foreshadowing: Anselmo's participation in a peaceful march contrasts with the chaos that follows, emphasizing how the protests began as legitimate demonstration before escalating into conflict.

• anselmo
• pensioners union
• veteran activist
• peaceful march

Étienne and Cecile are two French anarchists who become directly involved in the street fighting during the Genoa protests. Their actions reflect the broader international upheaval of the anti-globalization movement. Their storyline adds an international perspective, showing how the protests drew participants from across Europe. Their choices echo throughout the night as the film weaves their experiences into the larger tapestry of events.

Foreshadowing: As French participants in the European protest movement, their involvement underscores the transnational nature of the resistance against the G8 agenda.

• etienne
• cecile
• french
• anarchists
• international

Amnesty International described the police raid on Diaz school as the gravest breach of civil liberties in a democracy since World War II. The attack targeted a shelter containing peaceful protesters, journalists, and students, people exercising their right to demonstrate and document. The excessive violence, arbitrary arrests, and destruction of evidence represented a systematic violation of basic rights. The incident symbolized how state power could be used to crush legitimate dissent through intimidation and force.

Foreshadowing: The film's use of judicial testimonies throughout establishes the documented reality of these violations, giving weight to the narrative's claim about historical significance.

• amnesty international
• breach
• civil liberties
• democracy
• wwii
• genoa