8.8
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Drama, Thriller • 1970 • 111 min • Adults (18+)
Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970)
Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970)
Overview
A senior Rome police official commits a murder and then plants evidence against himself, daring the system to convict one of its own. Director Elio Petri built this 1970 Italian thriller around a single, pointed argument: authority protects those who serve it, regardless of guilt. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and its reputation rests on its unflinching portrait of institutional corruption and police impunity. That political core drives the Leans Progressive label. The central relationship is also violent and extramarital, which pulls against traditional family norms without endorsing anything in particular. Religion and identity politics are absent from the equation entirely.
Starring Cast
Gian Maria Volontè • Florinda Bolkan • Gianni Santuccio
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
Family Values: Leans Progressive
Viewer Rating
8.8
Overview
A senior Rome police official commits a murder and then plants evidence against himself, daring the system to convict one of its own. Director Elio Petri built this 1970 Italian thriller around a single, pointed argument: authority protects those who serve it, regardless of guilt. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and its reputation rests on its unflinching portrait of institutional corruption and police impunity. That political core drives the Leans Progressive label. The central relationship is also violent and extramarital, which pulls against traditional family norms without endorsing anything in particular. Religion and identity politics are absent from the equation entirely.
Starring Cast
Gian Maria Volontè • Florinda Bolkan • Gianni Santuccio
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Primary
Political: Strong Left
Confidence: High
The film's central thesis is an explicit and scathing critique of state authoritarianism, police impunity, and the systemic abuse of power, directly aligning with progressive ideology.
Diversity: Moderate
Confidence: High
The film features traditional European casting typical of its 1970s Italian setting, without intentional diversity-driven choices. Its narrative critically portrays a powerful white male protagonist as a villain, but this critique is focused on the abuse of power and systemic corruption rather than explicitly addressing traditional identities through a DEI lens.
Secondary
Family Values: Leans Progressive
Confidence: High
The film portrays a central relationship as an illicit, violent, and psychologically abusive affair, which directly subverts traditional marital fidelity and family norms. While not endorsing progressive alternatives positively, its narrative focuses on the breakdown and subversion of traditional family values.
LGBTQ: N/A
Confidence: High
The film does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. Its narrative centers on a heterosexual relationship and the psychological and political ramifications of a murder committed by a police official, focusing on themes of power, authority, and societal corruption.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: High
The film "Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion" does not feature any identifiable transsexual characters or themes. The narrative focuses on political corruption, power dynamics, and a murder investigation, without exploring aspects of gender identity or transition. Therefore, there is no portrayal of transsexual individuals or related themes within the film's storyline.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film is an original story with characters created specifically for this production. There are no pre-existing canonical, historical, or widely established characters from prior source material whose gender could have been altered.
Race Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film is an original screenplay with fictional characters, not an adaptation of prior source material or a biopic of historical figures. There is no established canonical or historical race for any character that differs from their on-screen portrayal.
Hinduism: N/A
Confidence: High
Not depicted in the film.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
8.0
8.2
Critic Ratings
10.0
8.9
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