Year of the Gun

Year of the Gun

Year: 1991

Runtime: 111 mins

Language: English

Director: John Frankenheimer

ThrillerRomanceAction

In a city seemingly drenched in blood, trust becomes a scarce commodity. American novelist David Raybourne, on a research visit to Rome, inadvertently becomes tangled in the Red Brigade’s plot to abduct Italian Premier Aldo Moro. When the militants turn on him, David and his photographer friend are forced into a desperate fight for survival.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Year of the Gun yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Year of the Gun (1991)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Year of the Gun (1991). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1978

In 1978, Italy was engulfed by a wave of political violence and high-profile kidnappings carried out by the Red Brigades. The film places Raybourne and his associates in the middle of this storm as they navigate loyalties, betrayals, and the media's gaze. The era's atmosphere of fear and urgency drives the plot forward.

Location

Rome, Italy

The story unfolds predominantly in Rome, a city buzzing with university debates, newspapers, and secret meetings. In the late 1970s, Rome becomes a focal point for the Red Brigades' activities and the era's political violence. The urban setting intensifies the tension as personal relationships intersect with public danger.

❄️ Historical 🗳️ Political unrest 🏙️ Urban Rome

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:37

Main Characters – Year of the Gun (1991)

Meet the key characters of Year of the Gun (1991), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lia (Valeria Golino)

Lia is the estranged wife of an Italian industrialist who becomes deeply entangled with the Red Brigades. She navigates romance and political intrigue with a cool detachment that belies her true loyalties. Her deeper involvement with the group culminates in a betrayal that affects Raybourne and Alison.

💼 Complex 💔 Betrayal 🕊️ Secretive

Italo Bianchi (John Pankow)

Italo Bianchi is a politically left-leaning lecturer at a Rome university who befriends Raybourne. Though mild-mannered, he is actually collaborating with the Red Brigades. His dual role as informant and mentor illustrates the era's murky loyalties.

🎓 Intellectual 🕳️ Double life 🗡️ Betrayal

David Raybourne (Andrew McCarthy)

David Raybourne is an American novelist living in Rome who uses his research to draft a novel about the Red Brigades. As his draft attracts attention, he finds himself hunted when the Brigades suspect a leak. He escapes with Alison but is captured, and is later interviewed on American television regarding the book's publication.

🖊️ Scribe 🧭 Curious 🏃 Risk-taker

Alison King (Sharon Stone)

Alison King is a beautiful and ambitious photojournalist eager for a scoop. She pursues a story by investigating Raybourne's draft and ends up entangled with Bianchi and Lia. She is captured with Raybourne and is forced to photograph Lia's body, becoming a witness to the tragedy.

📷 Photojournalist 🗞️ Ambitious 🧭 Courageous

Pierre Bernier (George Murcell)

Pierre Bernier is Raybourne's editor at the English-language newspaper. He is killed by the Red Brigades in front of Raybourne, triggering a desperate escape.

📰 Editor 🗡️ Power

Aldo Moro (Aldo Mengolini)

Aldo Moro is the former Italian Prime Minister whose kidnapping forms the central event of the Red Brigades' plan. The film depicts the lead-up to his capture and his ultimate murder, highlighting the real-world stakes of extremist politics.

🗳️ Political Leader 🏛️ Target

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:37

Major Themes – Year of the Gun (1991)

Explore the central themes of Year of the Gun (1991), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Political Betrayal

The Red Brigades' ideology collides with personal ambitions as characters leak information or collude with the group. Italo Bianchi's double life shows how ordinary figures become instruments of political violence. Lia's deeper involvement and her ultimate fate reveal that loyalty in this world is fragile and costly. Raybourne's discovery of the danger shows how fiction and real-world consequences can collide.

📰 Media and Secrecy

Raybourne's draft mirrors the real plot, triggering leaks and cover-ups within the media circle. Alison's pursuit of a scoop pulls her into a web of hidden agendas and personal risk. The media's role is seen as both witness and participant, shaping how events are told. The broadcast of the story on American television ties journalism to the tragedy as part of the public narrative.

❤️ Love Under Pressure

Romance and desire surface amid danger and political maneuvering. The relationships between Raybourne, Lia, and Alison are tested by mistrust, manipulation, and the threat of arrest or death. Personal loyalties are strained as the couple's safety hinges on the unpredictable tides of the Red Brigades. Love struggles to survive in a world ruled by fear.

🔥 Violence and Fear

The film depicts violence through kidnappings, shootings, and the pervasive atmosphere of fear that grips a country in turmoil. The Red Brigades' operations culminate in the dramatic kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro, a turning point that underscores the stakes. Journalists and bystanders alike are drawn into the danger as loyalties shift and lives are upended. The climactic chase exposes the brutal consequences of radical politics.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:37

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Year of the Gun

Don't stop at just watching — explore Year of the Gun in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Year of the Gun is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Year of the Gun Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Year of the Gun, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Year of the Gun Summary

Year of the Gun Timeline

Track the full timeline of Year of the Gun with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Year of the Gun Timeline

More About Year of the Gun

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Year of the Gun: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Year of the Gun

Explore More About Movie Year of the Gun

Year of the Gun (1991) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Year of the Gun (1991) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Year of the Gun (1991) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow