What Is High Crime About?
The premise of High Crime in 320 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the bustling port city of Genoa, the rhythm of daily life is underscored by a restless undercurrent of illicit trade. The film opens on a razor‑sharp portrait of a metropolis where sun‑baked streets mask a network of shadows, and every alley seems to whisper of hidden deals. Within this world moves Commissario Belli, a seasoned Italian police inspector whose relentless determination is matched only by his knack for out‑thinking the forces that seek to evade him. His methodical approach, tempered by an almost instinctual gut feeling, sets the tone for a cat‑and‑mouse pursuit that feels both cerebral and visceral.
Belli’s investigation quickly draws him into a web of old loyalties and emerging threats. He finds an uneasy ally in Cafiero, a venerable figure who has long claimed a quieter life as a gardener but still commands respect among the city’s underworld. Their tentative partnership is a study in contrasts: the disciplined, procedural mindset of the police versus the street‑wise pragmatism of a man who has survived countless power shifts. Overseeing the operation from the precinct is Commissioner Aldo Scavino, a senior official whose strategic vision provides both political cover and a measured pressure that pushes Belli ever deeper into the mire. The presence of a trusted lieutenant—whose loyalties hint at complexities beyond the obvious—adds another layer of intrigue without revealing the extent of his involvement.
As the investigation tightens, the stakes climb beyond professional ambition. The relentless pursuit of a powerful European drug cartel forces Belli to weigh his own moral compass against the encroaching darkness that threatens to consume the city he protects. Personal life and duty begin to blur, suggesting that the cost of dismantling such a sprawling operation may reach far beyond the badge. The atmosphere remains taut, a blend of gritty realism and brooding suspense, inviting viewers to wonder how far a man will go when the line between justice and survival grows ever thinner.
What Happens in High Crime?
The complete story of High Crime, from the first scene to the last, in 338 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 7 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
A Lebanese drug dealer arrives in Genoa, and Commissario Belli, Franco Nero begins a tense pursuit. After a long car chase, Belli manages to arrest him. However, when the prisoner is being taken to the police station, the police car is bombed. The blast kills the Lebanese dealer and four policemen, but Belli survives and remains determined to unravel what happened.
Belli travels to Cafiero, Fernando Rey, an old-fashioned gangster who now claims to be a peaceful gardener, to question the bombing and uncover the growing threat. Cafiero suspects a new player in town and sets out to tackle the new gang before the police have a chance to react. His trusted man, Rico, Daniel Martín, is revealed to be a mole working for the unknown gang, complicating Belli’s plan and creating a sense that danger runs deeper than expected.
Belli’s boss, Commissioner Aldo Scavino, James Whitmore, has assembled a dossier mapping the city’s mafia connections but believes there’s not enough hard evidence to crack the system from top to bottom. After several discussions with Belli, Scavino agrees to take the dossier to the district attorney. Yet tragedy strikes when Scavino is murdered and the dossier is stolen. Belli steps into Scavino’s shoes as the new Commissioner and starts tracing the killer himself. The murderer points to Umberto Griva, Duilio Del Prete, as the boss behind the operation. When Griva’s brother Franco, Silvano Tranquilli, is later found murdered, it suggests that someone with even higher political ties is maneuvering behind the scenes to control the city’s drug trafficking.
With Cafiero’s warning in mind, Belli decides to move his family to safety, sending his daughter away. But tragedy follows when his daughter is killed and his girlfriend Mirella, Delia Boccardo, is beaten. A crucial tip from Cafiero leads Belli to a large drug-smuggling setup. He arrives at the scene just as a fierce shootout erupts. In the end, Belli survives the confrontation and the criminals are all killed, bringing a hard-won, if pyrrhic, sense of closure to the case.
High Crime Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Lebanese drug dealer arrives in Genoa and is tracked” to “Final shootout destroys the criminal network”. 12 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Lebanese drug dealer arrives in Genoa and is tracked
A Lebanese drug dealer arrives in Genoa. Vice-Commissioner Belli tracks him down and a tense car pursuit ends with the arrest.
Where:Genoa
- 2
Police car bombing during transport
During transport to the police station, a bomb explodes. The Lebanese dealer and four policemen die, and Belli survives.
Where:On the way to the police station (Genoa)
- 3
Cafiero hints at a new player and a plan to act
Belli questions Cafiero about the bombing. Cafiero, now claiming to be a gardener, reveals there is a new player in town and decides to confront the gang.
Where:Cafiero's place
- 4
Rico revealed as a mole for the new gang
Cafiero's warning is followed by the revelation that his trusted man Rico is secretly a mole for the new gang. Rico's betrayal increases the danger facing Cafiero and Belli.
Where:Cafiero's operation / hideout
- 5
Dossier on mafia connections is prepared
Commissioner Scavino puts together a dossier on Genoa's mafia connections but feels there isn't enough hard evidence to bring down anyone yet. The dossier remains a fragile lead for future action.
Where:Scavino's office
- 6
Scavino is murdered and the dossier is stolen
Scavino is murdered before he can act, and the dossier disappears. Belli steps into Scavino's role as Commissioner and begins pursuing the truth.
Where:Police HQ
- 7
Belli becomes Commissioner and targets the boss
Belli takes over as Commissioner and tracks down the murderer. The killer names Umberto Griva as his boss, confirming Belli's suspicions about the top of the operation.
Where:Police Headquarters / investigation scene
- 8
Franco Griva is murdered, hinting at higher power
Franco Griva is found murdered, suggesting that someone with broad political connections is moving to control the drug trade. The underworld conflict escalates beyond local gangsters.
Where:Genoa
- 9
Belli sends his daughter to safety
After Cafiero's warning, Belli decides to send his daughter away to safety. He remains vigilant as the city trembles with escalating violence.
Where:Belli's home
- 10
Personal loss: daughter murdered and Mirella beaten
Belli's daughter is murdered and his girlfriend Mirella is beaten. The personal tragedy intensifies his resolve to crush the criminals.
Where:Home / Mirella's location
- 11
Discovery of a large drug smuggling operation
With Cafiero's hint, Belli uncovers a large drug-smuggling operation. He prepares to confront the operation and dismantle the network.
Where:Smuggling operation location
- 12
Final shootout destroys the criminal network
Belli arrives at the scene and a shootout erupts. He survives as the criminals are killed, ending the immediate threat to the city.
Where:Drug operation site
Who Are the Main Characters in High Crime?
8 characters, among them Commissario Belli (Franco Nero), Cafiero (Fernando Rey) and Umberto Griva (Duilio Del Prete): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
Commissario Belli (Franco Nero)
Played by Franco Nero
Vice-Commissioner turned relentless detective who chases the Lebanese drug dealer through a maze of crime and corruption. He survives a bombing and ultimately takes Scavino's seat as Commissioner, driven by a need for justice and personal loss. His resolve is sharpened by the danger to his daughter and loved ones, making him a relentless pursuer of the truth.
- 🕵️ Detective
- ⚖️ Law enforcement
-
Cafiero (Fernando Rey)
Played by Fernando Rey
Old-fashioned gangster who claims to have become a peaceful gardener, yet remains deeply connected to Genoa’s criminal underworld. He advises and aids Belli, warning of a new, more powerful gang and guiding the investigation with his street wisdom. His alliance with Belli suggests a complex moral code within crime.
- 🌿 Gardener
- 🕶️ Strategist
- UG
Umberto Griva (Duilio Del Prete)
Played by Duilio Del Prete
A top crime figure whose leadership hints at a larger criminal empire. The murder of his brother Franco and the later implication of an even more powerful boss point to a web of influence stretching beyond the city. He remains a central antagonist whose operations unify the various gang efforts.
- ⚔️ Boss
- 🕸️ Criminal network
- M(
Mirella (Delia Boccardo)
Played by Delia Boccardo
Belli’s girlfriend who becomes a casualty of the violence surrounding Genoa’s drug trade. She is beaten during the fallout of the case, underscoring the human cost of the criminal war. Her fate heightens Belli’s urgency to bring the criminals to justice.
- 💞 Girlfriend
- 💔 Victim
- CA
Commissioner Aldo Scavino (James Whitmore)
Played by James Whitmore
Belli’s superior and the architect behind the city’s anti-mafia dossier. His murder and the subsequent theft of the dossier propel the investigation into a higher-stakes cycle of crime and retribution. He represents the preexisting power structure that’s vulnerable to internal betrayal.
- 💼 Superior
- 🔎 Dossier
- R(
Rico (Daniel Martín)
Played by Daniel Martín
Belli’s trusted aide who secretly becomes a mole for the unknown new gangsters. His betrayal exposes a fracture within the police ranks and accelerates the emergence of a powerful adversary. His presence heightens the theme of loyalty versus self-preservation.
- 🤫 Mole
- 🗝️ Betrayal
- S(
Scorfano (Víctor Israel)
Played by Víctor Israel
A feared enforcer within the criminal underworld whose actions underscore the brutality of the drug trade. He operates within the larger network that is contested by Cafiero’s influence and the police crackdown. His role amplifies the danger facing Belli and his allies.
- 💀 Enforcer
- 🕸️ Underworld
- TC
Tony, Cafiero's Servant (Joaquín Solís)
Played by Joaquín Solís
A minor but telling character who serves Cafiero within the criminal world. His position reflects how the mob’s internal hierarchy operates through loyal retainers and service staff. He contributes to the texture of the underworld's daily operations.
- 🗂️ Servant
- 🧩 Minor role
Where and When Is High Crime Set?
High Crime is set in Genoa. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Genoa
Genoa, a major port city in northwest Italy, serves as the gritty backdrop for this crime saga. Its narrow streets and bustling harbor create a tense environment for car chases, bombings, and high-stakes confrontations between police and criminals. The city’s networks and neighborhoods become the chessboard on which the film’s mafia drama unfolds.
- 🗺️ Genoa
- 🏙️ Italian City
- 🔎 Crime Setting
What Are the Themes of High Crime?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Mafia Power, Corruption and Politics and Personal Loss.
-
01
Mafia Power
The film centers on rival crime factions jockeying for control of Genoa’s drug trade, revealing how families and their lieutenants vie for influence. Power flows from the top to street-level enforcers, and political connections threaten to shield criminals from punishment. The pursuit of the new gang shows the fragile boundary between law enforcement and organized crime.
-
02
Corruption and Politics
A central thread is how crime intersects with politics, illustrated by the dossier that could indict many, and the revelation that higher-level connections may be steering events. The murder of Scavino and the subsequent theft of the dossier propel the investigation into a higher-stakes cycle of crime and retribution. The criminal network reaches beyond cops and gangsters into the corridors of influence.
-
03
Personal Loss
The personal price of crime is shown through Belli’s protective acts for his family and his girlfriend Mirella, only to see his daughter murdered and Mirella beaten. These losses complicate his mission, intensifying his resolve to dismantle the drug operation. The film ties street violence to intimate tragedy, raising the stakes of every decision.
What Kind of Film Is High Crime?
Dark in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A fast-paced, gritty crime thriller that follows a determined inspector through a brutal and corrupt underworld, creating an anxious and relentless atmosphere of violence and betrayal.
- anxious
- gritty
- unsettling
- relentless
- violent
- paranoid
- police corruption
- drug cartel
- vengeance
- police investigation
Content notes: child death, police officer deaths, explosions, murder, beating.
Quiz
How well do you remember High Crime? Test yourself on the story.
