This film delivers some serious criticism of the Italian legal system, as Marco Bellocchio seems determined to have something or someone in his sights. The story revolves around judge "Mauro" (Michel Piccoli) and his sister "Marta" (Anouk Aimée), who raised him and is now struggling with her grip on reality, occasionally experiencing suicidal thoughts. His attempt to cheer her up involves introducing her to the charmingly disreputable actor "Giovanni" (Michele Placido), whom she quickly develops a fondness for. For the first time in their lives, his brother isn't the center of her world, and he finds himself feeling a little possessive as a result. Being a man with connections, he decides to leverage that influence to get rid of this disruption to his family life. The interactions between these three characters are quite striking, serving as an opportunity to examine themes of familial politics, jealousy, and bitterness. We also get a humorous look at small-town provincialism, minor corruption, and odd behaviors, making the two hours pass quickly. It occasionally relies on familiar portrayals of age and mindset, and perhaps feels slightly too structured, but it offers a somewhat unusual perspective on imperfect family relationships, and Aimée seems to have had a good time during filming.

Source on TMDB