La Commare Secca 1962

Discovery of the prostitute's body

The film opens with the brutal image of a prostitute's corpse lying on the bank of the Tiber in Rome. This shocking scene triggers the police investigation and sets a somber mood for the rest of the story. The investigators begin to piece together what happened that night.

Police begin interrogations

Detectives interview suspects who were known to be in the nearby park at the time. Each confession is filtered through memory and motive as the investigators try to reconstruct the events of the day. The interrogations reveal a web of partial truths and personal motives.

Young man claims job lead with priests

A young man tells the police he was meeting with priests to get a job recommendation. In truth, his confession hints that he and his friends spent the day roaming the park looking to rob couples. The scene foreshadows the moral ambiguity at the heart of the case.

The gigolo's misrule

A gigolo recounts his relationship with two girlfriends, but the tale exposes how he treats them badly. The narrative explores manipulation and shallow desire that surrounds the park's nightlife. This episode highlights vulnerability within the social circle of the crime.

The soldier's failed pick up

A soldier describes his failed attempts to charm women and his eventual fall asleep on a park bench. The story reveals loneliness and the routine disappointments that punctuate the day in the city park. It also hints at the absence of a solid alibi.

Teens and a theft in the park

Two teenage boys spend a pleasant afternoon with two teenage girls, but their excursion ends with them stealing from a homosexual man in the park. The incident adds a layer of social complexity and cruelty to the day’s events. The audience learns that crime and desire mingle in this crowded public space.

The murder flashback

The final flashback shows the prostitute's murder committed by a man in clogs who has already been interrogated. The scene connects the earlier testimonies to the killing and begins the path toward justice. His act is central to identifying the killer and unlocking the truth of the case.

Arrest of the killer at a dance

The murderer is finally apprehended at a dance, tying together the threads of the various testimonies. The arrest brings closure to the interrogation process and reveals how the truth can emerge through conflicting memories. The dance setting also underscores the film's themes of performance and disguise.

Thunderstorms interrupt each narrative

Throughout each testimony, sudden thunderstorms interrupt the storytelling. These storms create rhythm in the film and trigger transitions between stories. They physically lead to a recurring interlude in the prostitute's apartment as she prepares for her evening.

Interludes in the prostitute's apartment

The thunderstorms send the action to the prostitute's apartment, where she prepares for her evening. These interludes provide a counterpoint to the park stories and offer a glimpse into the prostitute's own perspective and routine. They reinforce the film's narrative framework of interruptions and storytelling.

The park as shared ground

Despite the different perspectives, each confession orbits the park as the shared setting of the day. The suspects' timelines intersect with the place where the crime occurred, highlighting the film's Rashomon-like structure. The park becomes a character in its own right.