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Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Repressione è il nostro vaccino! Repressione è civiltà!
— Il Dottore
Context:
The Inspector delivers this line in a passionate speech to his colleagues upon his promotion to the head of the political intelligence division. He is outlining his vision for his new role, a vision that is rooted in the aggressive suppression of any perceived threat to the established order. The scene is a powerful indictment of the authoritarian mindset and its celebration of power for its own sake.
Meaning:
"Repression is our vaccine! Repression is civilization!" This quote encapsulates the Inspector's fascist ideology. He sees the suppression of dissent and the strict enforcement of authority as not only necessary but also beneficial to society. It reveals his belief that the role of the police is not to protect and serve the people, but to control and dominate them. The quote is a chilling expression of his authoritarian worldview and serves as a direct critique of the political climate in Italy at the time.
Un criminale a capo della repressione, è perfetto!
— Antonio Pace
Context:
Antonio says this when he is being interrogated by the police. He is aware of the Inspector's guilt but refuses to cooperate with the investigation. His statement is a form of political protest, a way of using his knowledge to make a larger point about the illegitimacy of the state. It is a moment of profound insight that cuts to the heart of the film's themes.
Meaning:
"A criminal in charge of repression, it's perfect!" This quote from the young anarchist, Antonio Pace, articulates the film's central critique of the state. He sees the Inspector's guilt not as an aberration, but as the logical conclusion of a corrupt system. In his view, a murderer leading the police force perfectly exposes the hypocrisy and inherent criminality of the power structure. The quote highlights the film's cynical and deeply political message about the nature of authority.
Qualunque impressione egli possa farci, è pur sempre un servitore della legge, perciò appartiene alla legge e sfugge al giudizio umano.
— Narrator (closing title card)
Context:
This quote appears on a title card at the very end of the film, after the ambiguous final scene. It serves as a final, unsettling commentary on the events that have transpired. It forces the audience to confront the disturbing possibility that the Inspector, despite his monstrous actions, will ultimately face no consequences because of his position within the legal system. The quote leaves the film's central questions unanswered, lingering in the viewer's mind long after the credits have rolled.
Meaning:
"Whatever impression he makes on us, he is a servant of the law, therefore he belongs to the law and escapes human judgment." This quote from Franz Kafka's "The Trial" concludes the film, leaving the audience with a sense of unease and ambiguity. It suggests that those who are part of the machinery of the law are not subject to the same moral and legal standards as ordinary citizens. They are, in a sense, extensions of the law itself and therefore cannot be judged by human standards. The quote reinforces the film's central theme of a power structure that is accountable only to itself.