Watch Good Morning, Night

Good Morning, Night is a 2003 Italian drama written and directed by Marco Bellocchio. The film is loosely based on the 1978 kidnapping and murder of Christian Democrat leader Aldo Moro by the Red Brigades. The film follows the story of a young idealistic woman, Chiara (Maya Sansa), who is part of the Red Brigades. She is assigned to a team tasked with the kidnapping of the prominent politician, Enrico Mattei. As the group takes Mattei and holds him captive, Chiara begins to have doubts about the consequences of their actions.

Chiara is conflicted as she begins to form an unlikely bond with the aging politician, who she discovers is more human than she had believed. As the days pass, and the lines between right and wrong become increasingly blurred, Chiara is forced to confront the limits of her own beliefs and the moral complexities of the situation.

Meanwhile, the Italian government is frantically trying to locate and negotiate the release of Mattei. They are faced with the dilemma of whether to negotiate with the terrorists or to launch a full-scale military operation. The situation becomes more complicated as the public and media start to take sides and put pressure on the government to take action.

Good Morning, Night is a poignant and thought-provoking film that explores the themes of political activism, the moral dilemmas of terrorism, and the psychological effects of being involved in violent acts. The film is both a character study and a political commentary, with Chiara's transformation serving as a microcosm for the larger societal implications of terrorism.

Maya Sansa delivers a nuanced performance as Chiara, capturing the character's internal struggles and emotional conflicts. Luigi Lo Cascio and Roberto Herlitzka are equally impressive as Mattei and one of the leaders of the Red Brigades, respectively.

The film is also notable for its visual style, with Bellocchio using long takes and natural lighting to create a sense of realism and intimacy. The sparse and haunting score by Riccardo Giagni adds an additional layer of tension and emotional depth to the film.

Good Morning, Night was well-received by critics and won several awards, including the Silver Ribbon for Best Director and the International Critics' Week Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the psychological and moral complexities of terrorism, and the human toll it takes on those involved.