On the tranquil streets of Rome on March 16, 1978, a significant event unfolded. Two government vehicles faced an unexpected attack on a narrow street, as a group of assailants, dressed peculiarly in Alitalia airline uniforms, unleashed a barrage of bullets. The echoes of the gunfire resonated through Via Fani as Aldo Moro, the leader of Italy’s main political party, the Christian Democrats, was forcefully taken away in a waiting car. Meanwhile, the bodies of his police escort were left bleeding on the street. The gripping story of the events leading up to this moment and the grisly aftermath is masterfully portrayed in an exceptional Italian TV series called “Exterior Night,” directed by the esteemed filmmaker Marco Bellocchio. This series is now coming to the UK on Channel 4.
For an entire generation of Italians, the “Moro Affair” holds the same magnitude as the assassination of John F Kennedy or the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Everyone remembers exactly where they were when they first heard the news. Bellocchio, the 83-year-old film director and co-writer of the series, recalls the closure of state schools and children being sent home due to safety concerns. “They thought that there might be further attacks,” he shares via Zoom. Personally, Bellocchio was shocked yet conflicted in his reaction. As a former member of the Union of Italian Communists, he admits, “I was no longer as radical as I had been. For many young people, there was an almost enthusiastic response, unknowingly. They didn’t think about the tragic victims who lost their lives; it was about witnessing the defeat of the state. It was shocking that a small group of terrorists could abduct a man of such political importance.”
The infamous “small group of terrorists” were members of the Red Brigades, an extremist left-wing organization inspired by Germany’s Baader-Meinhof Gang. Moro, a prominent figure in postwar Italian politics who served as prime minister multiple times, was a moderate amidst a time of extremism. He even made deals with the Communist party, his own party’s sworn enemies. Some blamed the Italian government’s unwillingness to negotiate for Moro’s tragic fate. After being held captive for 55 days, and despite widespread demonstrations and pleas for his release from various unions and even the Pope, Moro was eventually murdered and left in the trunk of a car, conveniently placed between the headquarters of the Communist Party and the DC. Bellocchio describes Moro as a sacrificial victim, comparing him to Jesus Christ. Believing that the world powers preferred the continuation of the status quo and the prolongation of the Cold War, Moro had to disappear. Bellocchio states, “This man, who pursued compromise with patience, determination, and thoughtfulness, had to be eliminated.”
While older Italians may have familiarity with the historical events surrounding the Moro Affair, international audiences may be astounded by the revelations. With an exceptional cast, including Fabrizio Gifuni portraying Moro and Toni Servillo as Pope Paul VI, who was a close friend of Moro’s, the series offers more twists than a bowl of fusilli pasta. Each episode takes a different perspective, allowing viewers to understand Moro’s viewpoint, that of his wife Eleonora (played by Margherita Buy), and even that of the terrorists. The involvement of the CIA and the Italian security services, who many accuse of playing a dubious role, is also explored. Bellocchio reveals, “There are various opinions about the Moro Affair, but we aimed to present those that have prevailed and have been accepted by both the state and the terrorists. Many historians suspect that events unfolded differently.”
Interestingly, this is not Bellocchio’s first exploration of the Moro Affair. He previously delved into the subject through a documentary in 1995 and a feature film in 2003 titled “Good Morning, Night.” When asked why he returned to the subject once more, Bellocchio explains, “It’s similar to when something traumatic happens to you; you find yourself reliving it, rethinking it in the following days, months, and years.” Has anything changed since then? Bellocchio observes, “Even when we made the film in 2003, there was still a sense of ideological rage. That has subsided now, allowing me to tell the story from the characters’ perspectives. We could explore how Moro’s wife felt, discuss the minister of the interior Francesco Cossiga and the Pope, and even depict the two terrorists Faranda and Morucci, who found themselves increasingly isolated from the Red Brigades during the kidnapping. Our goal was to create a work that focused more on the characters rather than political positions.”
Bellocchio is intrigued to see how non-Italian viewers will respond to the series, especially considering that even many young Italians are unaware of the case. He remarks, “Parents have had to explain how such an absurd and tragic event could occur.” While the series has been well-received in Italy, where it is available on Netflix, Bellocchio admits to being surprised by the lack of controversy it has generated. “The French, on the other hand, get angrier. They still feel the tension in politics,” he shares. As for the current political situation in Italy and the rise of Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government, Bellocchio remains remarkably calm, stating, “I don’t believe there is a real threat of a fascist restoration because once a party becomes the government, they tend to become more moderate.”
Bellocchio first achieved success in 1965 with his debut feature film, “Fists in the Pocket,” which depicted a dysfunctional family and broke away from the dominant neorealist tradition in Italian cinema. As a contemporary of legendary Italian directors like Pier Paolo Pasolini and Bernardo Bertolucci, Bellocchio is the last surviving champion of his generation. However, he has never relied on past achievements. Throughout his career, he continues to create compelling and relevant films that tackle important subjects, whether it’s exploring Mussolini’s secret lover in “Vincere” or delving into the life of a mafia informant in “The Traitor.” He recently premiered his latest film, “Kidnapped,” in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and he already has plans for another mini-series centered around a miscarriage of justice. Bellocchio states, “It will depict the case of a famous television presenter, Enzo Tortora, who was unjustly accused of being involved with the Camorra and drug trafficking.” However, this is just one project among many that are still in the works.
Our conversation comes to an end as Bellocchio must attend a script conference and a pitch meeting. Even after more than six decades in the film industry, he remains a busy man with countless stories to tell and retell. Starting from August 20, audiences in the UK will have the opportunity to witness Bellocchio’s masterpiece, “Exterior Night,” on Channel 4.
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