The Law Is the Law

In the village of Assola, Giuseppe and Ferdinand play a constant game of chase across the Franco-Italian border. Giuseppe tries to move goods while Ferdinand tries to arrest him, turning everyday life into a strategic cat-and-mouse. The border itself becomes the arena where their rivalry unfolds.

During a town celebration on the French side, Ferdinand catches Giuseppe smuggling goods over the border. A chase ensues and Ferdinand finally arrests him, causing him to arrive late for the traditional parade where he was to carry the French flag. The incident intensifies tensions between the two sides.

At the reception, still in custody, Giuseppe reveals that Ferdinand's birth record was created in the hotel's kitchen on the Italian side. This discovery raises questions about Ferdinand's true nationality and his right to enforce the law. The hospitality venue becomes a battleground for questions of belonging.

An audit with Assola's municipal authorities uncovers that Ferdinand's birth was not properly registered in the correct municipality. Gaspar Donnadiè explains how the paperwork was misfiled, casting doubt on who should claim authority over Ferdinand. The misregistration hints at how bureaucratic errors can influence national belonging.

Ferdinand seeks Giuseppe's help to apply for an Italian identity document on the Italian side, with the aim of later requesting French naturalisation. The plan is risky because a French politician suggests it could jeopardize his marriage and his son's legitimacy. The legal maze deepens as the plan unfolds.

A French politician, allied with Ferdinand's father-in-law, argues that becoming Italian could permanently derail Ferdinand's French nationality and marriage. The warning weighs heavily on Ferdinand's choices. The political dimension of citizenship becomes a central obstacle.

Ferdinand is placed in Italian police custody along with Antoinette, who is now married to Giuseppe, due to Italian law that forbids divorce. Antoinette is released because her first marriage is invalid; Ferdinand remains detained because he is considered a deserter by Italy. The entanglement of personal and legal statuses traps both men.

The authorities formalize Ferdinand as a deserter under wartime records, complicating his legal status. He is kept in custody and later considered to have lost his rights to Italian citizenship. The split between personal loyalties and legal definitions deepens his alienation.

After the review, Ferdinand is escorted to the border to be sent back to France, but he is blocked by the local Gendarmerie from entering due to his undocumented status. He becomes homeless and stateless, an outsider to both nations. The border becomes a final barrier rather than a gateway.

Tired of the legal labyrinth, Ferdinand flees to the mountains with the rifle he used as a wartime marksman. He plans a personal vendetta against those who wronged him, using the isolation of the peaks to fuel his resolve. The landscape mirrors his growing sense of grievance and danger.

From the mountain, Ferdinand fires the first round of non-lethal warning shots at those he lists as targets. He contemplates escalating to lethal action, turning a personal grievance into a calculated threat. Giuseppe learns of the danger and enlists others to try to stop him.

Giuseppe sends requests to Donadiè for food to feed Ferdinand and asks Donadiè to intervene with him. While collecting supplies, Giuseppe notices wine bottle labels revealing that the border once cut the hotel in a different way and that the kitchen is actually in France. Donadiè confesses he altered the border to attract tourists.

The Italian Police and the French Gendarmerie converge on the mountain to inform Ferdinand of the truth. Seeing Giuseppe in the company of his adversaries, Ferdinand believes his ally has betrayed him and fires again. The shot ricochets and hits a bottle of smuggled liquor rather than Giuseppe.

Ferdinand learns that he was born in France and could potentially return to his old life. Yet the moment of clarity does not erase the tension between Giuseppe and Ferdinand, and the pursuit endures as the film hints that law, loyalty, and friendship will keep testing them. The final frame returns to the chase, with Ferdinand acknowledging the debt but affirming that ‘the Law is the Law.’