Watch Hands Over the City

Hands Over the City is a 1963 Italian drama film directed by Francesco Rosi. The movie takes us to Naples, Italy where we follow the story of a corrupt politician named Edoardo Nottola, played by Rod Steiger. When a building collapses in the poor side of town killing ten people, including two children, Nottola takes it upon himself to investigate the issue. Through the film, Nottola's relentless ambition and back-door dealings threaten to derail justice for the victims.

As the movie opens, we see Nottola, a powerful figure in the political sphere, watching the land for a new development. He and his associates survey the area as they plan to reroute the city's entire water supply to accommodate a new luxury development. However, the city's infrastructure is already under stress due to the lack of an adequate drainage system. Meanwhile, a factory owner named Mazzola is lobbying the government to make improvements to the building codes. This will help prevent further disasters like the previous one that'd occurred in the poor side of town where the factory is located.

The story's central focus is on Nottola and his ambition, using his political influence to shut down any attempts the opposition makes to bring him to justice. He then goes to great lengths to cover up his illegal dealings, even using his power to manipulate the press. Meanwhile, the people in the poor side of town suffer from the ongoing corruption and the aftermath of the building's collapse.

Salvo Randone, who plays Commissioner De Vita, is the primary voice of the victims' families. He's tasked with investigating the building's collapse, and as a result, he clashes with Nottola. De Vita and his team conduct a meticulous investigation into the disaster, which starts to expose Nottola's corruption.

Guido Alberti, as Enrico Pugliesi, serves as a mediator between Nottola and the opposition. Pugliesi tries in vain to convince Nottola to shift his focus from the luxury development to repairing the city's poor infrastructure. He tries to illustrate to Nottola how their current plan will pose a danger to the public, but Nottola sees Pugliesi as a liability and acts accordingly.

Throughout the film, we see the struggles of the families affected by the disaster as they try to come to terms with the tragedy. One of the victims' sons, for instance, is Job, a young man who is left to take care of the rest of his family. He struggles to find a job and financial aid for his family as he tries to navigate life in the aftermath of the building's collapse.

Overall, Hands Over the City is an intense political drama that delves into the greed and ambition of a corrupt politician. It shows how far some people are willing to go to enrich themselves, regardless of the consequences to others. At the same time, it highlights the struggles of the victims left to pick up the pieces after the tragedy, often with no support from the government. This film is a must-watch for fans of gripping dramas and stories that make a social commentary.