Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

A Man on His Knees Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman September 26, 2024

Films about supposedly everyday people getting sucked into the world of organized crime are probably a dime a dozen, but few arguably have the visceral impact of A Man on His Knees. A supplement on this disc featuring Damiano Damiani biographer Albert Pezzotta offers an interesting overview of so-called "mafia movies" within the context of epochal changes the Italian film industry was undergoing throughout the seventies, especially as television became more and more prevalent, cutting into audiences willing to buy tickets to see something out of the home. Pezzotta perhaps just slightly comically alludes to the fact that another reason box office receipts may have begun falling off in Italian cinemas during this period is that so many of the films coming out were "downers", to use common parlance. This film's very title may suggest that it's not going to be a "happily ever after" fest in any way, but what's remarkable about this unavoidably tragic tale is how it emphasizes a certain combativeness, in fact almost a spirit of resilience, that suffuses focal character Nino Peralta (Giuliano Gemma). Nino is an ex-con attempting fitfully to adhere to the venerable "straight and narrow", but who is almost shocked to find out he's one of several people slated to be taken out by a hitman named Antonio Platamonte (Michele Placido). Why this has occurred provides the initial impetus for a plot that becomes increasingly labyrinthine and which ultimately plays into an interwoven set of fraught relationships, rather remarkably including one between Nino and Platamonte.

A Man on His Knees may conjure up images of a debilitated character, but that said, the film itself is often a headlong rush into seemingly fatalistic (and, not to pun too horribly, fatal) events that give the narrative a whirlwind quality, while also underscoring the almost Job-like hurdles Nino is forced to confront. Perhaps surprisingly for a film so energized by conflict, there are moments of at least momentary humor, as in an opening vignette between Nino and his comrade Sebastiano Colicchia (Tano Cimarosa), where Colicchia points out Platamonte to Nino and informs Nino he's on Platamonte's hit list, but also mentions how it's important to hire a killer with no obvious connections to the victim in order to keep things "neat and clean". While that passing punchline gives a little extra flavor to the scene, the fact that Damiano (who also co-wrote the film in addition to helming it) jumps pretty much full force into his tale from the get go, something that continues apace as the complexities of the story unfold, often momentarily leaving the viewer with unanswered questions and occasional info dumps that can be at least a bit confounding, at least until more information is imparted (which it typically is).

Gemma is uncharacteristically vulnerable in this performance, even as Nino attempts to both literally and figuratively fight back against forces seemingly beyond his control. But as central as Gemma and the character of Nino are to the film, this is in a real sense an ensemble outing, and Damiani conducts a veritable chamber symphony of work by a number of outstanding actors, including not just the aforementioned people but also a number of others, including Eleonora Giorgi as Nino's wife Lucia. Tonally and even presentationally, the film is almost a Neo-Neorealist outing (if I may be permitted to coin a new subgenre). There's a gritty "reality" to the visuals, and even the film's emphasis on a downtrodden "everyman" getting chewed up by the machinery of a corrupt society seems to also refer at least allusively to Italy's post World War II contributions to global cinema.

A Man on His Knees Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

A Man on His Knees is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Radiance Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Radiance's insert booklet contains the following information on the transfer:

A Man on His Knees was restored in 4K at Augustus Color in Rome, Italy. The resotration was made from the original picture and audio negatives and the film is presented in the original aspect ratio and mono audio.

A brief prefatory set of text cards before the film offers a bit more information, as follows:

The 4K restoration was made at Augustus Color S.R.L. in collaboration with Mediaset, Cine34 and Infinity+. The restoration was made from the original picture and audio negatives deposited at Mediaset.

This is another appealing looking transfer from Radiance, though there are a few variances to note. Both the opening and closing moments feature old style optical credits, and associated roughness during those moments is pretty noticeable (especially in the opening imagery which underlies the credits, but also toward the end of the movie, where I suspect the final seconds were "co-opted" for the credits, even if they're not superimposed on the imagery). There are a few passing but extremely minor signs of age related wear and tear like white specks that can be spotted, but on the whole the negative was either in generally great condition or has been restored to its current condition. Color timing is generally excellent, though again there are some noticeable variations, with things looking a bit warmer on the whole as things progress. Detail levels are also typically nice, though parts of the film have a kind of dewy, almost glistening, softness, which I'm assuming was intentional on Damiani's part. The final scene is considerably rougher looking than the bulk of the presentation (see screenshot 3 for one example).

A Man on His Knees Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

A Man on His Knees features LPCM 2.0 Mono audio in the original Italian. There are some recurrent if not overly debilitating issues with this track, including discernable crackling and other roughness at higher amplitudes, something that's noticeable almost from the get go during some of Cimarosa's amped up line readings in particular. Otherwise, though, the track is certainly generally listenable, and provides typically easily discernable dialogue. Optional English subtitles are available. My score is 3.25.

A Man on His Knees Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Alberto Pezzotta (HD; 23:44) is an interview with Damiani's biographer. Subtitled in English.


• Giuliano Gemma (HD; 8:45) is an archival interview with the actor. Subtitled in English.


• Tano Cimarosa (HD; 8:59) is an archival interview with the actor. Subtitled in English.


• Mino Giarda (HD; 20:41) is an archival interview with the film's assistant director . Subtitled in English.


• Trailer (HD; 3:15)

Additionally, Radiance provides a nicely appointed insert booklet with a new essay by Roberto Curti and the traditional cast, crew and transfer information. The keepcase features a reversible sleeve and Radiance's obi strip.

A Man on His Knees Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A Man on His Knees is undeniably tragic, but it's also surprisingly moving, and Gemma really shines in a somewhat unusual role for the actor. Technical merits are generally solid, with some caveats as listed above, and as usual Radiance provides some enjoyable supplements. Recommended.