Hammamet

The film is set in two primary locations: Milan, Italy, where the 45th Congress of the Italian Socialist Party takes place at the Ansaldo plant, representing the height of industrial-political power; and Hammamet, Tunisia, where Craxi lives in exile in a villa, surrounded by family under constant surveillance. The contrast between these locations reflects the journey from political prominence to isolated decline.

The story spans from 1989, beginning with the PSI congress in Milan, through the early 1990s when the Tangentopoli scandal reshaped Italian politics, and into the late 1990s to show the aftermath. The timeline illustrates the rapid fall of the Italian Socialist Party and Craxi's exile until his death.

Bettino Craxi is depicted as the former Prime Minister and leader of the Italian Socialist Party, portrayed by Pierfrancesco Favino. The film shows his charismatic but increasingly threatened leadership, his battle with diabetes, and his reliance on controlled narratives to navigate his rapidly changing political landscape. His story traces the decline of a powerful political figure facing scandal and illness.

Tangentopoli was a major political corruption scandal in early 1990s Italy, literally meaning 'Bribe City,' involving widespread kickbacks and illicit financing among political parties. The film depicts this era as a crucible where image, influence, and private deals clash with public accountability, leading to the collapse of the Italian party system and the exile of key political figures like Craxi.

The film explores three interconnected themes: Power, examining how political authority tests personal loyalties and ideological commitments; Conscience, focusing on memory, guilt, and the moral tensions between family and country; and Legacy, depicting how public memory survives private regrets as characters negotiate what remains of their political creed when the era passes.

Vincenzo Sartori is the PSI treasurer, portrayed by Renato Carpentieri, depicted as a sharp political operator who confronts Craxi about betrayals while facing his own looming fall from grace. His resignation attempt and sense of exposure highlight the personal risks of public life. His tragic end through suicide marks the human toll of political ruin.

Fausto Sartori is the troubled son of Vincenzo Sartori, recently returned with psychological issues and carrying a hidden gun. His presence exposes fractures in family loyalties and drives a core moral tension in the film. He harbors a devastating secret about his father's involvement with Craxi, culminating in a chilling revelation about the truth of past events.

Anita Craxi is Bettino Craxi's daughter, portrayed by Livia Rossi. She navigates the delicate family situation while witnessing her father's grappling with illness and public scrutiny. She orchestrates crucial moments, including decisions about documenting her father's life, serving as both observer and participant in the personal dimension of the national scandal.

The film depicts how personal costs, exile, illness, and strained relationships, underscore the price of leadership. Craxi's defense of his actions contrasts with others' sense of betrayal as the party's integrity frays under scandal. The narrative shows that those who wield power must ultimately face its consequences, both public and private.

Hammamet represents both literal and metaphorical exile for Craxi, a location where political power dissolves under the weight of scandal and deteriorating health. The villa in Hammamet becomes a space of isolation, family tension, and reflection, contrasting sharply with his former position of authority in Milan.

The film asks what remains of a political creed when those who lived it fade away. Through memoirs, tapes, and testimonies, the narrative shows how legacies are negotiated through intimate acts that could destabilize a political order. Death, illness, and reconciliation punctuate the passing of an age when power once seemed permanent.

The film frames confession as a bargaining tool that can reshape history, with memory and guilt navigating the line between vengeance and justice. Characters must confront what they owe to family and country as recordings and revelations blur truth with memory, creating a psychological landscape where past actions haunt the present.