The career of Elio Petri, director of classics in political cinema, is reconstituted by means of his interviews with his collaborators and actors. Amongst many: Bernardo Bertolucci, Robert Altman, Florinda Bolkan, Tonino Guerra, Franco Nero, Vanessa Redgrave, and Gillo Pontecorvo.

Revered in his home country, Italian master Elio Petri remains obscure internationally compared to his 1970s peers. This wide ranging documentary—featuring interviews with Bernardo Bertolucci, Robert Altman, and more—captures the director’s genius for making political films out of commercial genres.