Hands Over the City

In the weeks leading up to a crowded city council election, a devastating building collapse exposes fragile alliances between a powerful land developer and the politicians who shelter him. Rather than delivering a simple verdict, the incident becomes a political test that pulls back the curtain on how plans for growth are negotiated behind closed doors. The narrative follows Edoardo Nottola, a high profile figure navigating press scrutiny, shifting loyalties, and a chorus of witnesses whose testimony may confirm or complicate the official account. As investigators close in and public opinion sways, the film explores how money, influence, and ambition shape what the city allows to be seen. The stakes feel personal as reform meets the entrenched city machine today.

Released in 1963, Hands Over the City is directed by Francesco Rosi and marks a defining moment in political realism. The screenplay draws on material by Enzo Forcella, Enzo Provenzale, and Raffaele La Capria, shaping its sharp edge and tone.

Box office figures for Hands Over the City are not widely documented, making it hard to assess commercial success. What stands out is the film's enduring reputation among scholars and cinephiles who study political cinema and 1960s urban realism today.

The film is widely cited as a landmark in political cinema for its unflinching look at how city planning and money shape democracy. Its tense procedural style and moral scrutiny influenced later works exploring corruption and media influence, from investigative dramas to social realist narratives in film and television alike.

Critics praised Rosi for exposing the mechanics of power without melodrama, focusing on ordinary people caught in the machinery of governance. Themes include accountability, urban development, the intersecting interests of business and politics, and the ethics of truth in the public sphere, even under pressure. The film remains relevant today.