What Is We Still Kill the Old Way About?
The premise of We Still Kill the Old Way in 329 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the sultry hills of Sicily, a small town clings to its ancient rhythms while the invisible hand of powerful institutions—Mafia, Church, and local politics—presses ever closer. Sun‑baked streets echo with whispered rumors, and the sea’s distant sigh carries the weight of histories that refuse to be forgotten. The community’s veneer of hospitality masks a fragile balance, where loyalty is demanded as much as it is granted, and every conversation carries an undercurrent of unease.
Into this world steps Laurana, a left‑leaning university professor whose restless intellect refuses to accept the comfortable silence that settles over uncomfortable truths. A scholar by training, he has traded lecture halls for the dusty alleys of his hometown, driven by a belief that education should confront, not conceal, the forces that shape everyday life. His friends know him as a man of principle, his enemies as a persistent thorn in the side of entrenched authority.
When a hunting party ends in a mysterious tragedy—two men are found dead under puzzling circumstances—the town’s quiet is shattered. The incident becomes a catalyst for Laurana’s obsession: to untangle the knot of rumors, extortion notes, and half‑remembered testimonies that swirl around the event. He enlists the help of his lawyer companion, Rosello, and finds himself drawn into a delicate dance with Luisa, the widow whose grief and quiet resolve hint at deeper layers of the story. As he follows scattered clues—clippings from a Vatican newspaper, a missing diary page—the professor confronts the uneasy complicity that binds the community together.
What follows is a tense, atmospheric quest that pits intellectual curiosity against the opaque power structures that dominate the island. The film’s tone is built on simmering dread and moral ambiguity, inviting viewers to linger in the shadows of a place where truth is a dangerous commodity. In We Still Kill the Old Way, the pursuit of answers becomes a meditation on the cost of dissent in a society where history is both a weapon and a shield.
What Happens in We Still Kill the Old Way?
The complete story of We Still Kill the Old Way, from the first scene to the last, in 444 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
In a quiet little town, the local pharmacist Arturo Manno, Luigi Pistilli, is infamous for chasing women, and so the death threats looming over him hardly surprise his circle of friends. Yet the warnings take a dark turn when Manno and his friend, Dr. Antonio Roscio, Franco Tranchina, are found dead during a predawn hunting excursion. As fear ripples through the community, suspicion immediately lands on Rosina’s family—the father and two brothers of Manno’s underage servant, Rosina, a detail that twists the town’s loyalties and tempers.
Professor Laurana, who has glimpsed one extortion note, refuses to accept that these illiterate men could be behind the scheme, especially since the letters have been put together with clippings from Osservatore Romano, a Vatican newspaper with only two local subscribers. Determined to uncover the truth, Laurana enlists his lawyer friend Rosello, Gabriele Ferzetti, and begins a careful, and increasingly dangerous, investigation. His motive is deepened by a private ache: his hidden love for Luisa Roscio, the widow of Manno’s murdered companion. Laurana’s path toward justice is complicated when Roscio’s father, who had opposed his son’s marriage to Luisa, entrusts Laurana with Roscio’s diary, a document that is missing pages and may hold vital clues.
From a trusted ally—a friend who sits on Palermo’s city council—Laurana learns that Roscio had lived in fear because he was gathering evidence against a corrupt prominent citizen in Laurana’s hometown. Roscio himself had been convinced that the death threats against Manno were a smokescreen and that he, Roscio, might be the real target. Luisa, for her part, rejects Laurana’s romantic advances but appears to back his quest for the truth, hinting at a deeper involvement by her cousin Rosello in the tangled case.
Laurana presses on and eventually meets Rosello, who drives him to a shadowy rendezvous. Realizing his life is at risk, Laurana pretends to have left behind a diary detailing his research in Palermo, a bluff that only fuels Rosello’s fury as he dumps Laurana back in the village. The next day, Laurana tells Luisa that the supposed diary never existed, a confession that does little to calm the peril surrounding them. Luisa guides him to a seaside spot where she finally ends their tense exchange by walking away after another blunt refusal.
Tragedy strikes when a group of local men brutally beats Laurana, killing him and allowing his body to disappear. In the aftermath, Rosello and Luisa marry, an event watched by acquaintances who quietly question the plot and wonder at Laurana’s optimism and naivety. The tale leaves the town haunted by the fear that truth and justice have been outmatched by fear, power, and a community’s uneasy complicity.
We Still Kill the Old Way Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Threats precede the crime” to “Final reflections on the case”. 13 events name a place, across 13 locations.
- 1
Threats precede the crime
The local pharmacist Arturo Manno begins receiving death threats, a fact that shocks his friends in the close-knit town. They know Manno as a known womanizer, so the menace is hardly unexpected, yet its presence casts a pall over the community. The suggestion of violence hangs over daily life as the story begins.
When:before the murder Where:small town
- 2
Manno and Roscio are killed while hunting
Early one morning, Manno and his friend Antonio Roscio are killed while hunting. The double tragedy sends shockwaves through the town and triggers an urgent investigation. The immediate aftermath fuses personal loss with mounting suspicion among the locals.
When:early morning Where:hunting grounds near the town
- 3
Initial suspects target Rosina's family
After the murders, suspicion falls on Rosina's father and her two brothers, since Rosina had been Manno's mistress. The alleged culprits are illiterate, making the extortion letters seem suspect. The case hints at a deeper conspiracy beyond a simple family vendetta.
When:immediately after murder Where:village
- 4
Laurana doubts the obvious culprits
Professor Laurana notes that the extortion letters were crafted from clipped pieces of Osservatore Romano, a Vatican newspaper with only a couple of local subscribers. This detail leads him to doubt the straightforward guilt of Rosina's family. He senses a more sophisticated motive behind the threats and killings.
When:around the investigation Where:Laurana's town
- 5
Laurana enlists Rosello and begins his own search
Laurana asks his lawyer friend Rosello to take care of the detained suspects and begins his own inquiry into the case. He is secretly driven by his love for Luisa Roscio, the widow of Manno's murdered companion. This personal motive pushes him toward risky discoveries.
When:shortly after murder Where:Rosello's office in the town
- 6
Roscio's diary and missing pages
Roscio's father hands over Roscio's diary to Laurana, but pages are missing, hinting that someone has hidden crucial information. Laurana realizes the diary could contain evidence related to the threats and the corrupt figure Roscio had been pursuing. The missing pages become a symbol of concealed truth.
When:soon after murder Where:Roscio's home
- 7
Roscio feared for his life over evidence
Laurana learns that Roscio feared for his life because he was collecting evidence against a corrupt prominent citizen from their hometown. He believes the death threats against Manno were a cover to silence Roscio. The realization deepens the danger surrounding Laurana and his investigation.
When:during investigation Where:Laurana's hometown
- 8
Luisa suspects Rosello
Luisa Roscio suspects her cousin Rosello might be involved in the case, adding personal tension to the investigation. She questions loyalties and motives as Laurana follows other leads. The suspicion strains relationships and complicates the quest for truth.
When:as suspicions arise Where:Luisa's home
- 9
Laurana confronts Rosello and the car ride
Laurana meets Rosello, who drives him toward a mysterious appointment. Realizing his life is in danger, Laurana pretends that he has left a diary with the details of his research in Palermo. Rosello becomes enraged and, after this confrontation, drives him back to the village and throws him out of the car.
When:during the meeting Where:on the road in Rosello's car; later the village
- 10
The diary bluff is revealed; seaside deferral
The next day, Laurana tells Luisa that the diary never existed and that his earlier claim was a bluff. Luisa takes him to a seaside location and leaves him after again rejecting his blunt advances. The confrontation marks a turning point in their turbulent relationship and in Laurana's line of inquiry.
When:the next day Where:seaside location; village
Show the other 3 events of We Still Kill the Old Way Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Laurana is killed by local men
A group of local men beat Laurana, kill him, and let his body disappear, making his pursuit seem to end in tragedy. The violence demonstrates the peril faced by anyone who challenges the town's crimes. The murder compounds the sense that truth itself is being buried.
When:shortly after the seaside confrontation Where:seaside location
- 12
Rosello and Luisa marry; voices reflect
Some time later, Rosello and Luisa marry, watched by Rosello's and Laurana's acquaintances. They comment disparagingly on the scheme while noting Laurana's naivety and the fragility of those who pursued the truth. The marriage signals a sort of uneasy closure to the personal side of the story.
When:some time later Where:the village
- 13
Final reflections on the case
As the town rests on the outcomes, lingering questions about the broader conspiracy remain unspoken. The scheme’s success, coupled with Laurana's fate, leaves a haunting sense of unresolved truth in the community. Acquaintances remember the pursuit and its costs, underscoring how secrets can outlive their pursuers.
When:after the marriage Where:the town
Who Are the Main Characters in We Still Kill the Old Way?
7 characters, among them Professore Paolo Laurana (Gian Maria Volonté), Luisa Roscio (Irene Papas) and Arturo Manno (Luigi Pistilli): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
Professore Paolo Laurana (Gian Maria Volonté)
Played by Gian Maria Volonté
Brilliant, principled professor who seeks the truth behind Manno's murder. He suspects the public guilt is misdirected and carefully links clues. He harbors a secret love for Luisa Roscio, which colors his judgment and invites danger as he pushes the investigation forward. His idealism clashes with the town's corruption, foreshadowing the peril he faces.
- 🧠 Intelligent
- 🔎 Investigator
- 💔 Unrequited love
-
Luisa Roscio (Irene Papas)
Played by Irene Papas
Widow of Manno’s murdered companion, wary, and intelligent. She cooperates with Laurana's inquiry while navigating the town's dangerous politics. She suspects her cousin Rosello's involvement but remains torn between loyalty and truth. Her choices drive the narrative toward the town's moral reckoning.
- 💬 Strong-willed
- 🕊️ Grief
- 🗝️ Secrets
-
Arturo Manno (Luigi Pistilli)
Played by Luigi Pistilli
A known womanizer whose behavior provokes resentment in the town. His murder becomes the catalyst for the investigation and exposes the fragility of social façades. His role is primarily as the spark that reveals corruption rather than a deeply developed figure.
- 💢 Womanizer
- ⚖️ Victim
- 🌪️ Catalyst
- AR
Avvocato Rosello (Gabriele Ferzetti)
Played by Gabriele Ferzetti
Charismatic lawyer and local power broker, initially treated with suspicion but essential to unraveling the town's network. He may be involved in cover-ups and uses his position to influence proceedings. His actions embody how legal authority can be manipulated to protect the guilty.
- ⚖️ Lawyer
- 🕴️ Power broker
- 💡 Manipulation
- PR
Professore Roscio (Salvo Randone)
Played by Salvo Randone
Respected professor whose cautious demeanor mirrors the town's intellectual elite. He shares Laurana's passion for truth but remains wary of how far to push suspects. His role hints at the danger that frank inquiry can invite in a close-knit community.
- 🧠 Intellectual
- 🛡️ Protective
- 🤔 Suspicious
- R(
Rosina (Luciana Scalise)
Played by Luciana Scalise
Underage servant whose relationship with Manno becomes a focal point of the case. Her position makes her a potential pawn in town power plays, and her fate reflects the vulnerability of vulnerable individuals in a hostile environment.
- 🌸 Young
- 🕊️ Vulnerable
- 🔍 Key witness
- DA
Dr. Antonio Roscio (Franco Tranchina)
Played by Franco Tranchina
Medical doctor in the town; his family ties and potential motive are hinted in the investigation. He embodies how personal relationships intersect with public crime in a tight-knit community.
- 🧬 Medical
- 🕵️♀️ Suspect
- 🔗 Family ties
Where and When Is We Still Kill the Old Way Set?
We Still Kill the Old Way is set in Small Sicilian town. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Small Sicilian town
A tight-knit coastal town where gossip travels fast and old loyalties bind families. The local power structure blends politics, church authority, and petty vengeance. The seaside streets and dimly lit alleys create a claustrophobic backdrop for a murder investigation that shatters appearances.
- 🏛️ Small-town life
- ⚖️ Corruption
- 🌊 Seaside
What Are the Themes of We Still Kill the Old Way?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Power & Corruption, Truth vs Deception and Love & Jealousy.
-
01
Power & Corruption
The film centers on a corrupt local elite who manipulate threats and violence to maintain control. Wealth, status, and political influence shield criminals while ordinary people pay the price. The investigation reveals that appearances in town life mask a web of favors, coercion, and cover-ups.
-
02
Truth vs Deception
Laurana's pursuit of truth clashes with surface appearances and calculated misdirection. Letters cut from a Vatican newspaper and a diary with missing pages show how evidence can be manipulated. The search exposes a labyrinth of lies that endangers anyone who digs too deep.
-
03
Love & Jealousy
Laurana's secret love for Luisa colours his investigation and blinds him to danger. Luisa's guarded reactions reveal how personal feelings can influence justice and loyalty. The romance becomes a lens on power, betrayal, and the human cost of truth-seeking.
What Kind of Film Is We Still Kill the Old Way?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A tense and cynical crime drama that builds an atmosphere of pervasive dread and futility as an idealistic professor confronts a wall of corruption, leading to a grim and violent conclusion.
- gritty
- anxious
- paranoid
- cynical
- oppressive
- sinister
- political corruption
- mafia
- crime investigation
- betrayal
Content notes: murder, brutal beating, kidnapping, political corruption.
Quiz
How well do you remember We Still Kill the Old Way? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch We Still Kill the Old Way
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video and fuboTV. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Amazon Prime Video 
Amazon Prime Video with Ads 
fuboTV 
MGM Plus 
MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel 
MGM+ Amazon Channel 
Philo 
ScreenPix Amazon Channel 
ScreenPix Apple TV channel Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
