A sexually repressed man in 1930s Italy is consumed by an irresistible need to fit in with society, which leads him to embrace fascism as Mussolini rises to power. As his allegiance to the regime takes over his life, he agrees to assassinate his old college professor. Bernardo Bertolucci's drama, with Jean-Louis Trintignant and Stefania Sandrelli. In Italian, French and Latin.

A weak-willed Italian man becomes a fascist flunky who goes abroad to arrange the assassination of his old teacher, now a political dissident.