Hammamet

Vincenzo Sartori wanted to resign because he believed Bettino Craxi had betrayed the core ideals of socialism by engaging in illicit activities. He was deeply troubled by how the party was being dragged into an ongoing investigation (Tangentopoli) and could no longer reconcile his conscience with his political affiliation. Sartori intended to step away from politics entirely rather than be complicit in what he saw as moral corruption.

At the 1989 Congress, Sartori explicitly states that Craxi has betrayed socialism, setting the stage for his eventual departure.

Craxi dismissed Sartori's concerns and blocked his resignation to protect the party's image and avoid internal conflict during a politically sensitive time. By downplaying the accusations and deflecting responsibility, Craxi prevented a public fracture that could have accelerated the party's decline. Keeping Sartori bound to the party also ensured his silence about the party's financial misconduct.

This moment establishes Craxi's pattern of prioritizing political survival over loyalty to his allies.

Sartori's suicide was triggered by the collapse of the PSI following the Tangentopoli corruption scandal. Unable to reconcile his integrity with the party's compromised state, and likely feeling guilty for not acting on his conscience earlier, Sartori took his own life by leaping from his office balcony. The weight of his unresolved moral conflict, combined with the public humiliation of the scandal, proved unbearable.

Sartori's earlier attempt to resign foreshadows his inability to survive in a corrupted political environment.

Fausto came to Hammamet ostensibly to deliver a letter from his late father Vincenzo, which accused Craxi of a lifetime of illicit deeds. However, his true intention was to kill Craxi as revenge for what he believed was Craxi's responsibility for his father's death. He secretly carried a loaded gun and was dressed in guerrilla gear, indicating a prepared assassination attempt.

The letter serves as a pretext, but Fausto's preparation with a weapon reveals his pre-meditated plan.

Craxi discovered that Fausto had a ready-to-fire gun and, rather than alerting security, chose to bargain. He offered to share certain past secrets in exchange for Fausto sparing his life. This deal reflects Craxi's survival instinct, he understood that Fausto's desire for truth or revenge could be exploited, and he used that to buy time while attempting to control the narrative of his legacy.

Craxi's awareness of the weapon and his decision to negotiate shows his lifelong talent for political deals.

Craxi refused because returning to Italy for surgery would risk immediate arrest. The Italian authorities were still pursuing charges related to Tangentopoli, and setting foot in an Italian hospital would expose him to legal detention. Despite knowing his health was failing, he chose to remain in Tunisia where he could avoid prosecution, even if it meant receiving inferior medical care.

This decision reflects Craxi's lifelong prioritization of political freedom over personal wellbeing.

As Craxi suffered cardiac arrest, he experienced two visions: a childhood memory from boarding school representing his innocent past, and a surreal encounter where his father led him from the Milan Cathedral's rooftop to a theater mocking his corpse. These visions symbolize his journey from youthful ideals to the public humiliation of his legacy, contrasting his original aspirations with the contemptuous end he ultimately received.

The rooftop-to-theater imagery mirrors his political ascent and subsequent fall from grace.

The shocking truth revealed at the end is that Vincenzo Sartori did not commit suicide, his son Fausto killed him. In a moment of furious indignation over his father's continued support for Craxi, Fausto murdered Vincenzo and staged it as suicide. This revelation reframes the entire tragedy, showing how Fausto's obsession with Craxi destroyed his own family before he even arrived in Hammamet.

Fausto's violent intentions toward Craxi hint at a capacity for extreme action against his own father.

Anita agreed to protect the tape containing Craxi's most guarded confessions because Fausto, now mentally unstable, entrusted it to her with his life. Though she claimed never to have seen him before when asked by the director, she took custody of the tape, choosing to preserve her father's secrets rather than expose them. This decision reflects both her loyalty to family and the burden of carrying unresolved truth.

The tape represents the final leverage over Craxi's legacy, and Anita's choice to protect it echoes her father's lifelong habit of controlling narratives.

Craxi's former mistress (amante) came to Hammamet seeking a final meeting with him as his life was drawing to a close. She wanted closure and one last moment together before his death. Anita initially resisted but eventually permitted a private meeting in a hotel, recognizing that her father still held deep feelings for the woman. This reflects the complex personal relationships of public figures who strive to preserve dignity even as their public reputations collapse.

The encounter highlights Craxi's human side amidst his political downfall.