Violent Life

End of World War II leaves Rome's poorest neighborhoods in rubble and frustration. Tommaso becomes the de facto leader of a youth gang, steering their petty thefts and scavenging for quick profits. The precarious postwar climate fuels their reckless fun and bravado.

With stolen money, Tommaso and his companions fund nights out, paying for cheap thrills like visiting prostitutes and going to the cinema. Their casual crime becomes a source of status and escape from the harsh everyday life in the township.

Although some companions are drawn to Mussolini, they still gather at the local Communist Party HQ where dances draw young crowds. The venue becomes a crossroads for political currents and social mixing within the neighborhood.

At a dance, Tommaso meets Irene and is unexpectedly drawn to her despite his coarse, self-serving demeanor. The encounter hints at a more complex relationship that could anchor his future, even as his intentions remain mixed.

One night, after trying to reconcile with his estranged girlfriend, Tommaso kills a man in a moment of violence. He is arrested and sentenced to two years in prison, a turning point that interrupts his reckless lifestyle.

Tommaso serves his sentence and returns to a Rome that has begun to modernize, with new apartments rising from the old streets. His mother also manages to receive a new apartment, reflecting tangible changes in the community.

Back in society, Tommaso is a heavy smoker and soon develops tuberculosis, forcing him into a sanitarium to recover. The illness halts his previous life and constrains his freedom to act on impulse.

While confined, Tommaso reflects on his past choices and begins to show genuine concern for others. The time away fosters a quieter sense of responsibility and a reconsideration of his future.

Upon returning home, Tommaso becomes engaged to Irene and resolves to join the Communist Party to please her father. This marks a shift toward stability and political alignment he previously resisted.

He resumes smoking but demonstrates altruism by risking his life to help a complete stranger during a driving rainstorm. The act reveals a renewed willingness to put others before himself, even as his health remains fragile.

Tommaso’s inner spiritual health appears stronger, yet his physical condition continues to falter. The contrast foreshadows the tragedy that will end his arc despite his improvements.

Ultimately, Tommaso dies before he can fully realize the dreams he was beginning to form and the commitments he had chosen. The film closes on a note of what might have been, underscoring the cost of a life marked by violence and later redemption.