What Is Romanzo Criminale About?
The premise of Romanzo Criminale in 298 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the restless streets of 1970s Rome, a young man fresh from a juvenile detention centre steps back into a world that still echoes with the clatter of his past. He promptly reunites with two longtime companions, Freddo, Libano and Dandi, each carrying the scars and swagger of their shared youth. The city itself feels both nostalgic and precarious, its ancient alleys and neon‑lit avenues framing a backdrop where ambition can blossom as quickly as it can decay.
Together the trio forms an uneasy partnership, balancing loyalty with the lure of personal freedom. Libano thrives on the exhilaration of rising influence, treating their collective ascent as a celebration of power and possibility. Freddo‑who once learned the hard way what survival demands‑acts as the steady, if sometimes brooding, anchor of the group. Meanwhile, Dandi pursues his own pleasures, his charm and restless energy adding a volatile spark to their dynamic. Their interactions pulse with a mixture of camaraderie, rivalry, and a shared yearning to rewrite the limits imposed on them by society and their own histories.
The film paints Rome as a character in its own right—glittering, gritty, and forever on the brink of change. A smoky jazz club can feel as menacing as a sun‑drenched piazza, and the ever‑present hum of traffic mirrors the constant undercurrent of tension among the friends. The tone oscillates between gritty realism and stylized drama, inviting viewers to feel both the exhilaration of youthful daring and the weight of looming consequences.
As the years roll forward, their partnership stretches across the city’s undercurrents, each success amplifying both their confidence and the silent dread that something unseen might fracture their bond. The atmosphere remains charged with anticipation, hinting that the very qualities that bind them could also become the source of an inevitable reckoning.
What Happens in Romanzo Criminale?
The complete story of Romanzo Criminale, from the first scene to the last, in 670 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
In 1970s Rome, four young delinquents—Ice (Il Freddo), Libano, Dandi Claudio Santamaria, and Grand—pull off a car theft that plunges them into a brutal night. They crash through a police roadblock, and Grand is crushed by the steering column. Back at a desolate caravan hideout near the coast, the police close in; Ice, Libano, and Dandi manage to flee, but Grand dies from his injuries, leaving a stark mark on the group and on each of them as they move forward into a harsher world.
Years later, in a Rome that feels both familiar and increasingly dangerous, Ice walks out of prison and reconnects with Libano, who unveils a plan to kidnap and ransom Baron Rosellini [Franco Interlenghi]. The aristocrat’s wealth could fund a much larger ambitions: a growing criminal empire. They assemble a gang that includes Dandi, and a constellation of figures—Nero, Bright Eye, Ricotta, Bufalo, Rat, and the Buffoni brothers, Ciro and Aldo. The ransom is set at 3 billion lire, and the Baron is shot by one of the Cannizzari brothers guarding him. Yet the job isn’t finished: the gang photographs the dead man with a newspaper to prove the killing and secure the money, laying a foundation for what comes next. Commissioner Scialoja [Stefano Accorsi] starts tracking the gang, recording the serial numbers of the ransom money, and plotting how to bring them down.
As the gang begins to divide the spoils, Lebanese proposes a bold split: 500 million lire for the core crew, and the rest to be reinvested in a sweeping criminal project across Rome. Their expansion runs ahead of the existing drug trade, which is controlled by the ruthless Terribile [Massimo Popolizio]. To consolidate power, the gang eliminates Terribile’s rivals and consolidates the drug line, with Gemito eventually pressed into service. After a raid that leaves Terribile vulnerable, the crime king wakes to find Ice, Libano, and Dandi intruding in his room. Cornered, Terribile reluctantly yields control of the racket to the new group.
With power growing, the gang’s influence expands into every corner of the city’s underworld. Dandi meets and is enchanted by an upscale prostitute, Patrizia [Anna Mouglalis], who is brought into the fold to keep him close and compliant, ensuring the gang’s grip remains unchallenged. Ice, meanwhile, falls for his younger brother Gigio’s tutor, Roberta [Jasmine Trinca], a romance that complicates loyalties within their ranks. To shield their relationship from the gang’s volatility, Patrizia is kept close, and Roberta becomes a symbol of what Ice is risking by staying involved.
As the romance deepens, Ice and Roberta begin learning English with dreams of leaving the life behind. The plan is narrowly foiled at Bologna’s train station, where an organized bombing—an ominous symbol of state collusion—casts a new shadow over everything. The personal and political collide, and the gang’s hold on the city seems more secure than ever, as they use fear and money to bend others to their will.
The tale takes a sharp turn when Lebanese is stabbed to death by Gemito after a bitter poker game, a blow that triggers Ice’s personal quest for vengeance. Ice, now driven by loss and a thirst for retribution, seeks justice with Dandi’s aid. Yet Scialoja remains relentless, closing in on Ice and gradually capturing most of the gang. Ice fights to escape from prison with the help of his friends, but the prison walls can’t shield him from the spiraling cycles of score-settling and betrayal that have infected every corner of their world.
In the end, the pursuit of power, money, and loyalty drives the survivors toward an inescapable reckoning. Scialoja’s relentless pursuit, the shifting alliances, and the violence that punctuates every victory reveal a Rome where the line between law and crime blurs, and where vengeance becomes a currency of its own. The story closes on a city still glamorous and dangerous, where the memory of a car theft in youth haunts the present, and where a new generation tries to navigate a criminal landscape that refuses to let go.
Romanzo Criminale Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Car theft and deadly crash” to “Prison escape plan and looming collapse”. 13 events name a place, across 6 locations.
- 1
Car theft and deadly crash
In 1970s Rome, four youths steal a car and crash through a police roadblock. Grand is crushed by the steering column in the wreck, dying on the spot. The surviving trio flees and eventually heads to their hideout, a small disused caravan near a beach, as the authorities close in.
When:early 1970s Where:Rome outskirts, hideout near a beach
- 2
Police raid and arrests
The police raid their hideout and corner them. Ice, Lebanese, and Dandi attempt to flee but are captured, while Grand is already dead from the earlier crash.
When:early 1970s Where:Hideout near the beach
- 3
Release and regroup years later
Some years later in the 1970s, Ice is released from prison and reconnects with Lebanese, who presents a plan to kidnap Baron Rossellini. They begin assembling a larger crew with Dandi and others to pull off the heist.
When:mid-1970s Where:Rome
- 4
The baron kidnapping crew forms
Ice and Lebanese recruit Dandi and a broader gang to kidnap Baron Rossellini for a ransom. They negotiate a ransom of 3 billion lire and begin assembling the crew for the operation.
When:mid-1970s Where:Rome
- 5
Baron shot and ransom secured
During the abduction, the Baron is shot by one of the Cannizzari brothers entrusted to guard him. The gang photographs the dead Baron with a newspaper and pockets 3 billion lire in ransom money. Police Commissioner Scialoja starts to track them by recording the serial numbers.
When:mid-1970s Where:Baron's location, Rome
- 6
Loot split and expansion plans
As the gang divides the loot, Lebanese suggests keeping 500 million lire for themselves and using the remaining 2.5 billion to build a foothold in Rome's criminal underworld. They set their sights on drug dealing as the next big profit, brushing past existing networks.
When:mid- to late-1970s Where:Rome
- 7
Terrible's drug racket clash
Terrible's drug operation stands in the way of their expansion. The gang wipes out Terrible's crew, then bribes Gemito to help them take over. Terrible wakes inside his own home to find Ice, Lebanese, and Dandi and reluctantly agrees to cede control.
When:mid- to late-1970s Where:Rome
- 8
Power grows; romance complicates
Rome falls under Lebanese's control as the gang's influence explodes. Dandi is drawn to Patrizia, an upmarket prostitute who is bought and given a brothel to keep him in line and prevent jealousy-driven brawls.
When:late-1970s Where:Rome
- 9
Ice's love and withdrawal request
Ice falls for Roberta, his younger brother Gigio's tutor, while Lebanese views this as a liability. Ice asks to withdraw from the gang, triggering tension within the leadership.
When:late-1970s Where:Rome
- 10
Elopement plans and Bologna bombing
Ice and Roberta begin learning English with the idea of running away together. While these plans unfold, a bomb attack at Bologna Train Station suggests state collusion and destabilization.
When:late-1970s Where:Bologna
Show the other 3 events of Romanzo Criminale Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Lebanese dies; Gemito's betrayal
Ice receives a call that Lebanese has been stabbed to death by Gemito after a bitter poker game. The loss fuels Ice's quest for vengeance.
When:late-1970s Where:Rome
- 12
Scialoja closes in; arrests begin
Scialoja continues the pursuit and succeeds in capturing Ice, then the other gang members, with the exception of Dandi. The net tightens around the remaining crew.
When:late-1970s Where:Rome
- 13
Prison escape plan and looming collapse
Ice contemplates an escape from prison with help from his allies, but a deadly spiral of score-settling already threads through the gang. The gang's fate seems sealed as vengeance and arrests close in.
When:late-1970s Where:Prison
Who Are the Main Characters in Romanzo Criminale?
10 characters, among them Il Freddo (Kim Rossi Stuart), Libano (Pierfrancesco Favino) and Dandi (Claudio Santamaria): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- IF
Il Freddo (Kim Rossi Stuart)
Played by Kim Rossi Stuart
A core member whose calm, calculating nature contrasts with the escalating violence around him. He falls for Roberta, adding a personal dilemma to his criminal ambitions and complicating his resolve to stay apart from the gang’s worst excesses.
- 🔫 Gang member
- 🧭 Ambitious
- ❤️ Romantic entanglement
-
Libano (Pierfrancesco Favino)
Played by Pierfrancesco Favino
The ruthless mastermind planning kidnappings and shaping the gang’s power base in Rome. He prioritizes profit and control, orchestrating moves that expand the underworld’s reach while navigating shifting loyalties.
- 💼 Leader
- 🗡️ Ruthless
- 🧭 Strategist
- D(
Dandi (Claudio Santamaria)
Played by Claudio Santamaria
A gang member whose loyalty and courage are tested as the empire grows. His involvement with Patrizia and the evolving power structure pushes him toward increasingly risky choices.
- 🧩 Loyalist
- 🔪 Enforcer
- 💔 Conflicted
-
Barone Rosellini (Franco Interlenghi)
Played by Franco Interlenghi
A wealthy aristocrat and the gang’s ransom target whose status embodies the old social order the crew seeks to upend. His involvement catalyzes police interest and public intrigue.
- 👑 Aristocrat
- 💰 Target
- 🧭 Catalyst
-
Patrizia (Anna Mouglalis)
Played by Anna Mouglalis
A high-class prostitute bought by the gang to manage Dandi and maintain control. Her presence highlights the commodification of women within the criminal world and the power dynamics at play.
- 💃 Prostitute
- 🧭 Manipulated
- ❤️ Love interest
- R(
Roberta (Jasmine Trinca)
Played by Jasmine Trinca
Ice’s love interest and Gigio’s tutor, whose relationship with the gang brings a personal dimension to the violence surrounding them. Her fate illustrates the human costs of the crime world.
- 💘 Romantic interest
- 🗡️ Consequence
- 🕊️ Human vulnerability
-
Nero (Riccardo Scamarcio)
Played by Riccardo Scamarcio
A key member who helps drive the gang’s expansion and enforces the group’s will. His actions contribute to the brutal dynamics that define the rise of the criminal empire.
- 🕵️ Operative
- 💰 Power broker
- T(
Terribile (Massimo Popolizio)
Played by Massimo Popolizio
The formidable drug dealer whose organization is absorbed into the gang’s growing empire. His presence marks the drug trade’s central role in Rome’s crime landscape.
- 🧪 Drug lord
- 🔪 Violence
-
Scialoja (Stefano Accorsi)
Played by Stefano Accorsi
The Police Commissioner who relentlessly pursues the gang, using surveillance and investigation to undermine their operations. He represents the relentless pressure of law enforcement on organized crime.
- 🕵️ Lawman
- ⚖️ Pursuit
- CG
Carenza Gemito (Gianmarco Tognazzi)
Played by Gianmarco Tognazzi
A pivotal ally recruited by Lebanese, aiding the gang’s enforcement and expansion. His involvement helps solidify the crew’s grip on power within Rome’s criminal underworld.
- 🤝 Ally
- 🧭 Enforcer
Where and When Is Romanzo Criminale Set?
Romanzo Criminale is set in Rome, Bologna Train Station and beachside caravan (1970s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1970s
The narrative unfolds throughout the 1970s in Rome, a period marked by political turmoil and the ascent of organized crime. It traces the progression from a childhood car theft to a sprawling criminal enterprise. The timeline emphasizes how quickly a youth gang can morph into a city-wide power structure amid urban unrest.
Where
Rome, Bologna Train Station, beachside caravan
Set in the 1970s Rome underworld with a seaside hideout near the city, the story moves from a derelict caravan by the beach to crowded urban streets. The city is depicted as a chessboard where power, money, and violence intersect. The gang's rise reshapes neighborhoods and draws increasing attention from law enforcement.
- 🏙️ Urban crime
- 🌊 Coastal setting
What Are the Themes of Romanzo Criminale?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Power, Violence and Loyalty & Betrayal.
-
01
Power
Power drives the gang’s expansion in Rome. What starts as simple crimes evolves into control over markets and neighborhoods, fueling a ruthless ascent. Ambition and the lure of dominance lead to betrayals and escalating violence as the underworld tightens its grip.
-
02
Violence
Violence is the currency of the underworld, punctuating every major shift in the gang’s fortunes. Murders, ambushes, and coercion propel the plot and determine loyalties. The constant threat of retaliation creates a vicious cycle of revenge.
-
03
Loyalty & Betrayal
Loyalty binds the crew at first, but personal bonds and romantic entanglements test those ties as money and power come into play. Strategic betrayals remix alliances and deepen the moral cost of crime. The tale shows how quickly loyalty can fracture under pressure.
What Kind of Film Is Romanzo Criminale?
Dark in tone, with fast pacing and a complex story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Complex
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A relentlessly fast-paced and brutal crime epic that chronicles the violent rise and tragic fall of a gang, immersing the viewer in a paranoid world of power, betrayal, and grinding moral decay.
- gritty
- brutal
- paranoid
- cynical
- tragic
- ruthless
- organized crime
- rise and fall
- betrayal
- political conspiracy
Content notes: gang violence, murder, drug trade, sexual content.
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