Roberto Succo

Cédric Kahn’s brooding thriller follows the murderous exploits of Roberto Succo, the notorious serial killer, who committed parricide at the age of 19 and terrorised the French-Italian border regions throughout the 80s.

Based on the book by Pascale Froment – ‘Je te tue. Histoire vraie de Roberto Succo, assassin sans raison’ – Kahn adopts a non-psychological approach to his lead character. There is no attempt to justify or pass judgement on his actions; rather the director merely records the trajectory of Succo while subtly evoking an unnerving mood throughout. The measured approach successfully draws us both into this dark world of a serial killer and provides the spectator with the distance necessary to remind us that this story is real. Kahn ethically avoids being gratuitous, as he successfully treats a contentious subject matter with great care and meticulous detail.

The film’s success is also derived in large measure from its captivating performances. A non-professional, chosen after a chance meeting with the casting director for his piercing gaze, Stefano Cassetti in the title role is neurotic, intense and unsettling, while Isild le Besco’s (an arthouse darling in France) wayward adolescent is imbued with reticent authenticity. The couple make for engrossing viewing, as their child-like interaction with each other and the world stands in stark contrast to the acts being committed throughout the film. Finally, Patrick Dell’Isola (Mafiosa) injects a dogged tenacity to the police chief piecing together the spate of murders and disappearances left in Succo’s wake.