Le long silence

The German director Margarethe Von Trotta dedicates most of her work to the female universe, and explores women's emotional sides with intensity, but delicately. In this 1993 film, she deals with an Italian woman, Carla, who stands up to the Italian Mafia, more particularly the fear and corruption the Mafia unleashes at the Italian judicial system. Her husband is a high judge, and the couple live in constant fear for their lives.

After realizing that she cannot rely on the system she always believed in, she starts to investigate on her own, and defies the rules of a partial and corrupt system. With her example, she influences other women, victims like herself, to break the long silence (the film's title, in English) which covers up crimes, vendettas, and assassinations.

Carla Gravina's performance in the main role is just right. Von Strotta's direction is solid, and the film features an appropriate sound track by Ennio Morricone. A must-see for Von Trotta fans.