One Hundred Days in Palermo (Cento giorni a Palermo)

21 July 1979.

Boris Giuliano, head of the rapid response unit in Palermo,

has a mysterious meeting at Lux bar.

Giuliano has by then built a carefully constructed career.

He investigates the rise of the Sicilian Mafia

as a dominant force in international drug trafficking,

and the consequences of the enormous financial flows

needed for the purchase and refining of drugs,

and for networks and distribution markets in America and Europe.

In cooperation with the FBI, he focused on Mafia banker Michele Sindona.

He has been murdered… he has been murdered… he has been murdered.

25 September 1979.

Cesare Terranova, judge and former member of parliament.

For years active in the parliamentary anti-Mafia commission.

Afterwards he returned to Sicily as a judge.

He was appointed president of the Palermo court.

He openly advocated a tougher fight against the Mafia,

and against the Mafia’s ties with finance and politics.

6 January 1980.

Piersanti Mattarella, Christian Democrat and president of Sicily.

He summed up his governing vision in one simple sentence:

“A region with clean governance.”

Under Mattarella, that idea began to take shape.

Controls were introduced on the budgets of individual departments.

He also had tenders for municipal school construction reviewed.

He made clear that the law must apply equally to everyone,

which amounted to a major shift in governance.

Help!

Help!

Stop! Don’t shoot!

Piersanti! Piersanti! Help!

6 August 1980.

Judge Gaetano Costa. Attorney General of the Italian Republic in Palermo.

The names of the Bontade, Inzerillo, Spatola families and banker Sindona,

and his name became closely linked to various Mafia bosses.

As with his investigations into Giuliano, Terranova and President Mattarella.

In May 1980 the police discovered a heroin trafficking clan.

The Sicilian magistrates did not confirm the arrest warrants.

Prosecutor Costa signs the warrants.

It is known that Costa signed the arrest warrants.

How many dead have we already mourned in our own country?

Far too many.

The Mafia has never made such high-ranking victims.

When such serious crimes are committed

it has profound consequences for the state.

Do not project political theories onto this,

that would only suggest links that are already clear in reality.

The truth is that today we face Mafia terror,

as a means of creating a climate of fear.

What has the state actually done for you in recent years?

- Nothing. Only words and promises. - Then why has no one been arrested?

It is exactly as it is: nothing has happened.

It has simply not been spoken about enough.

Why was the anti-Mafia bill not passed?

Words, promises… and in the end

the anti-Mafia law has been blocked in parliament for two years.

Mr. La Torre, what exactly should this law change?

That is of great importance.

You must understand that our island today

has become the global center of drug trafficking.

Weapons, extortion and infiltration in all layers of our economy.

What exactly do we want to achieve with this bill?

We need police and judiciary

with the means and powers to penetrate the financial core of the Mafia,

so that their real profits become visible.

They steal from the poor, from honest citizens and from the state.

- Minister! - Congratulations, general.

Thank you for accepting such an important role.

It was not difficult to accept.

Harder will be taking off this uniform again someday.

I am at your disposal for anything needed.

Of course I need the government’s support.

If you allow it, I would like to discuss a few matters with you.

- Come to my office, governor. - Thank you.

Dear La Torre, I have a question for you.

Do you support the appointment of General Dalla Chiesa as prefect of Palermo?

More than that. These days a quantum leap by the state is needed,

in the fight against the Mafia.

For you communists, a general remains just

a general, even if he serves in the Carabinieri?

Do not play with words, I have known Dalla Chiesa for many years.

He joined our fight against the Mafia when he was a captain.

So he knows how to defeat terrorism...

Listen, do not forget:

Nobody conquers anything alone. Neither terrorism nor the Mafia.

General Dalla Chiesa, when will you be confirmed as prefect of Palermo?

When are you going to Sicily?

Is it true you have been granted extraordinary powers?

No comment.

Can you confirm you will coordinate the fight against the Mafia?

- Gentlemen, please! - I said...

ONE HUNDRED DAYS IN PALERMO Subtitles by BuStEl, 2026

He has arrived. Inform the Cavaliere.

Watch out!

Weapons present!

Good day, doctor.

Welcome.

We brought you to Sicily. - Don’t worry.

I was already in Europe. I would have come anyway.

- Where did you disembark? - Costa Smeralda.

It is safer there.

- If you want, I have a yacht. - With four fishermen on board!

Rome. Formal transfer of military power.

General Dalla Chiesa wore his uniform for the last time.

General Lorenzoni was appointed as Dalla Chiesa’s successor.

Lieutenant Claudio Giunti, officer in charge of the barracks.

Current strength: 60 officers,

120 non-commissioned officers and 1,200 troops.

Thank you.

Gu Ciaio has left. Hong Kong was in chaos.

Our colleagues in Hong Kong, please.

The third weapons shipment never arrived.

- It will arrive tomorrow morning. - And the credit?

We’ll route it through our usual channels, right?

Good, first we want the opinion of our friends in New York.

The organization cannot afford to lose guarantees in Sicily.

Our Maestro also agrees.

Yes. But the subordinates and the services?

We have already made our decision.

- Sir? - Yes.

We are worried about the future.

- And the consequences? - And the future?

We brought one hundred thousand people to Comiso!

And regarding the general.

I assure you the consequences will be handled. The goal is correct.

Whoever wanted Dalla Chiesa will cool down; the same applies to the Church.

They are attacking me here as well. Listen,

La Torre is making a serious political mistake,

now that he seeks an alliance with the Christian Democrats.

You are disrupting the plans of many.

The event in Comiso has caused unrest.

When has something like this happened in Sicily? When?

Some say it is a political protest against the Americans.

One hundred thousand people with different political beliefs,

of all ages, did not unite to protest against the country,

but to defend peace, against missiles and against the mafia.

I always say: wherever someone fights the mafia, we must be there.

Pio, there is a motorcycle at the back I don’t like.

Cowards! Cowards!

Don’t be like that, Emanuela. Let’s talk calmly.

- You have already decided. - I have not decided anything yet.

I only asked for time, that’s all.

Carlo, tell me the truth.

My presence is hindering your work, isn’t it?

What do you think?

That I only make things harder, that I am dependent on you.

Please, Emanuela, don’t say that. I cannot bear those words.

As if you are saying I had already accepted the ministerial appointment.

That is not good.

You are right. Apologies… apologies!

It is very difficult for me.

I cannot bear seeing you like this

leaving everything alone.

It is hard to accept that. Do you understand?

Yes, because that happened to me thirty years ago when I went to Sicily.

I left my wife in Florence, she was pregnant.

When I saw her again, Nando was already eight months old.

- And so it went on. - That is not good, do you see that?

Do you understand that that is not good?

I do not know whether it is right or wrong. I do not know.

But this is my life, that I know.

Let’s implement these changes in La Torre’s communiqué.

With the aim of creating solidarity between power and opposition?

Yes, and to avoid wrong interpretations. Come in!

- Dear Dalla Chiesa, have a seat. - Thank you.

For the telegram from the Communist Party:

Only my signature, without ministerial mention.

Of course. Do not worry.

Dalla Chiesa, we must wait for a better moment.

No, those are for no one. I will call them.

When I return from Palermo, I will have more time.

Many meetings will follow around your official appointment.

I want to go to Palermo immediately.

I think La Torre’s murder is linked to my appointment.

If that is so, I must start working as soon as possible.

Yes, you are right.

I will reserve a seat on my government flight, next to me.

Thank you. That is not necessary, Minister.

We already have a seat on the regular flight.

I am here in Rome only to inform you of my intentions.

And also to say that some of my duties have not yet been discussed.

But that does not matter, Minister. I have full confidence in you.

Thank you, prefect.

Welcome, Excellency. Did you have a good trip?

I am Lo Verde, head of your secretariat.

Pleased to meet you.

Let’s go, Excellency. The car and escort are there.

- Why? Are the taxis on strike? - Excellency!

We will meet at the prefecture.

I told my son: “Take the driving test and then we’ll see”.

He passed the exam but is still waiting for his license.

Why don’t you ask? That is your civic right.

Yes, exactly. In Palermo civic rights seem to apply only in this street.

It is the mafia.

Thank you.

Excuse me, Via Cavour, which number?

- Prefecture. - Prefecture?

Yes, you must enter through the courtyard.

- Jesus… you are General Dalla Chiesa. - Yes.

That is General Dalla Chiesa!