Hands Over the City

In this gripping drama, Rod Steiger stars as Eduardo Nottola, a ruthless Neapolitan land developer who uses his power and influence to make personal profit in a high-stakes suburban real-estate deal. But when a residential building next to one of his construction sites collapses, Nottola's empire is threatened by an investigation into his connection to the accident, led by the idealist socialist politician De Vita (Carlo Fermariello). As the inquiry heats up, Nottola must navigate the treacherous waters of corruption and politics to protect his interests. This unflinching expose of urban decay and power struggles was a major winner at the 1963 Venice Film Festival, earning the Golden Lion award for its stark realism and biting commentary on the abuse of public office.