81 A Man on His Knees

[Finch]

Mistaken as a witness to a crime, Nino (Giuliano Gemma, The Iron Prefect), learns from a friend he has been put on a Mafia hit list and is being stalked by an assassin (Michele Placido, Romanzo Criminale). A man with a troubled past, Nino knows only too well what he faces and uses all his strength and cunning to keep himself and his family alive. Featuring stunning performances from both leads, Damiano Damiani (The Day of the Owl) applies his trademark realism and socio-political commentary to A Man on His Knees, charting Nino’s desperation as he refuses to kneel before the power of organised crime. Newly restored in 4K, Radiance Films is proud to present one of Damiani’s finest films on Blu-ray for the first time in the world.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

New 4K restoration from the original negative

Uncompressed mono PCM audio

Archival interviews with stars Giuliano Gemma, Tano Cimarosa and assistant director Mino Giarda

New interview with Alberto Pezzotta, author of Regia Damiano Damiani

Trailer

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista

Booklet featuring new writing by Roberto Curti

Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

[Aspect]

I’ve enjoyed all the Damiani films that Radiance has released, but this is truly the masterpiece of the bunch. Paced like a rocket and never less than enthralling, it’s a nightmarish descent into a mazelike Palermo where getting caught up with the mob and its flunky enforcers is inescapable, subject to mere chance. The movie does an excellent job of putting you in Gemma’s shoes and never letting up on the feeling of being tricked and assaulted from all sides. And everything Gemma does to help himself and his young family somehow makes it worse, putting those unlucky enough to be in his orbit at mortal risk. I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s just so damn great.

[MichaelB]

Amusingly, I ordered it today via the Radiance sale as a direct result of this thread being revived (and your post), only to realise that I already had it courtesy of an earlier bundle deal! Fortunately, it was easy to fix, and I'm greatly looking forward to finally taking the shrinkwrapping off. And possibly watching it too.

[Aspect]

I’m glad they could cancel it for you. I look forward to your thoughts. Hope you like it!

I watched the interview with Alberto Pezzotta and he mentions that this film and The Warning (1980), also starring Gemma, are the last two movies Damiani made with complete freedom. I would love for Radiance to release it in the future. I Am Afraid (1977) with Gian Maria Volonte and Erland Josephson(!) also looks interesting.

I Am Afraid could probably be the title for most of Damiani’s 70s paranoia-tinged films!