What Have They Done to Your Daughters? (1974) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story takes place in a quiet, provincial town in the Brescia Province of Italy. Key locations include an attic where the murder occurs, local hospitals, police stations, and a central piazza that connects the investigation to everyday town life. The small-town setting intensifies the impact of the crime, as the close-knit community is shaken by revelations of corruption among powerful figures.

• brescia province
• italy setting
• small town
• provincial setting

The investigation reveals a prostitution ring run by older men with connections to prominent figures in the town. As Inspector Silvestri and prosecutor Vittoria Stori dig deeper, they discover that officials actively resist prosecuting all culprits, illustrating how powerful interests shield each other from justice. The tension between pursuing truth and covering up for influential individuals drives much of the drama.

• prostitution ring
• corruption
• cover-up
• powerful figures

The film centers on the brutal exploitation of underage girls, specifically highlighting 15-year-old Silvia Polvesi who becomes a victim of both sexual abuse and murder. The narrative shows how abuse is concealed through intimidation and complicity within the community. Silvia's pregnancy and the discovery of birth control pills in her coat are key clues that hint at the predatory actions of the killer and his network.

• underage exploitation
• sexual abuse
• victims
• predation

Inspector Silvestri and prosecutor Vittoria Stori pursue Silvia's murder by gathering evidence through recordings and testimonies that contradict the official suicide narrative. The investigation shows how evidence can be manipulated to shape public perception, and the film demonstrates the procedural work of connecting motive, opportunity, and proof to build a case against powerful perpetrators.

• investigation
• evidence
• inspector silvestri
• prosecutor vittoria stori
• truth

Silvia Polvesi is a 15-year-old girl whose death is initially ruled a suicide but later proven to be murder connected to an underage prostitution ring. Her voice appears on recordings that implicate the perpetrators, making her case central to exposing the criminal network. Her mother Mrs. Polvesi suspects foul play after finding birth control pills in her daughter's coat, hiring a private detective whose subsequent murder deepens the case's complexity.

• silvia polvesi
• victim
• murder
• prostitution ring

Inspector Silvestri is a vigilant homicide inspector who leads the pursuit of Silvia's killer and the network behind her murder. He pursues leads through dangerous areas, survives a deadly confrontation, and uses strategic deception to draw out criminals. His determination to pursue justice despite resistance from powerful figures defines his role in the story.

• inspector silvestri
• investigator
• homicide detective
• claudio cassinelli

Vittoria Stori is an Assistant District Attorney who analyzes the crime scene and audio tapes to prove that Silvia's death was murder rather than suicide. She collaborates closely with Inspector Silvestri, pushing the case forward despite bureaucratic caution. Her analytical approach and determination to seek justice for the victims make her a key figure in challenging the institutional cover-up.

• vittoria stori
• prosecutor
• attorney
• justice
• giovanna ralli

Bruno Paglia is a middle-aged man who is photographed with Silvia in the attic and becomes an early suspect. He is initially arrested for taking provocative photographs of the teen but is released due to insufficient evidence. Later, he himself becomes a murder victim when killed at his home. His involvement hints at the deeper connections between voyeurism, prostitution, and the power dynamics at play in the criminal network.

• bruno paglia
• photographs
• suspect
• victim
• voyeurism

Patrizia Valentini is the teenage daughter of Inspector Valentini who becomes a crucial conduit of information for the investigation. She learns about the prostitution network through her classmates and aids Silvestri with key information. Her character demonstrates the younger generation's role as informants in a dangerous investigation, and her involvement shows how the crime affects families across the town.

• patrizia valentini
• informant
• inspector's daughter
• teenagers

Rosa is the secretary and former lover of Talenti, who is recovering in a hospital after a car accident. She becomes a crucial link in the investigation by sharing tape recordings that reveal the existence of the prostitution ring. Her cooperation helps the investigators uncover the truth behind the cover-up, providing the evidence needed to piece together the criminal network.

• rosa
• tape recordings
• evidence
• prostitution ring
• hospital

The film presents a mixed outcome regarding justice. While the killer is eliminated, the masterminds of the prostitution ring escape justice, leaving a bitter sense of systemic failure. The story illustrates how powerful figures use their influence to avoid prosecution, even when their crimes are exposed. This reflects the film's theme of institutional corruption and the difficulty of achieving true justice when powerful interests are at stake.

• justice
• accountability
• ending
• corruption
• systemic failure

Professor Beltrame is a psychiatrist whose past patients and incriminating files reveal his complicity in drugging and sexually abusing victims. His death by apparent suicide triggers a broader inquiry into abuse within the medical profession, expanding the investigation beyond the immediate murder case to expose systemic abuse by trusted professionals.

• professor beltrame
• psychiatrist
• abuse
• medical profession
• complicity