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Poster for The Mattei Affair

The Mattei Affair

Seen it?

1972 | 116 min | Drama, History

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With a box office flop and little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for history buffs. If you loved Belfast, start here.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 56 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1972: an older pace and style.

Enrico Mattei helped change Italy’s future, first as freedom-fighter against the Nazis, then as an investor in methane gas through a public company, A.G.I.P., and ultimately as the head of ENI, a state body formed for the development of oil resources. On October 27, 1962, he died when his private airplane crashed during a flight to Milan. Officially, it is declared an accident, but many journalists explore other plausible reasons for Mattei's untimely death.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.5 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    Won 1 Cannes award: Palme d'Or.

  • Reach & staying powerWeak

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 14K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Francesco Rosi

  • Gian Maria VolontéEnrico Mattei
  • Luigi Squarzinaliberal journalist
  • Peter BaldwinWilliam McHale
  • Renato Romanojournalist
  • Franco GraziosiMinister of State partecipations
  • Gianfranco OmbuenMr. Ferrari, the engineer
  • Elio Jottahead of the Committee of Inquiry
  • Luciano ColittiIrnerio Bertuzzi
  • Edda FerronaoMrs. Mattei
  • Accursio Di LeoSicilian character