Love and politics force a man into a dangerous situation in this drama from director Renata De Maria. Prima Linea was a radical political group active in Italy in the 1970s that believed that the nation's leadership was taking a dangerous turn to the right, and they were willing to respond to a possible military coup with violence if necessary. Sergio (Riccardo Scamarcio) is a left wing activist who believes extreme times demand an extreme response, and he becomes a member of the armed faction of Prima Linea. Sergio falls in love with a fellow member of Prima Linea, Susanna (Giovanna Mezzogiorno), and while his belief in the cause he's fighting for fades with time, his love for her does not. Sergio's has all but given up on Prima Linea when Susanna is arrested for her part in several terrorist actions and is sentenced to prison, leading him to one final act with his comrades -- a raid to break Susanna and other political prisoners out of jail. Inspired by real life events, La Prima Linea (aka The Front Line) was an official selection at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.
by Mark Deming
synopsis
