Set in Rome, Italy in the late 1970s, the vibe of Romanzo Criminale is all grit and seedy hangouts inside a cloud of cigarette smoke. Amid petty gangs and small-time crooks, enter “The Lebanese” aka Libano (Francesco Montanari), who wants to become Rome’s King of Crime. Libano correctly observes the political chaos of the time and lack of direct mafia control as an opportunity. Together with his top lieutenant Dandi (Alessandro Roja, Song of Napoli, Diabolik) and his rival-turned-partner Freddo aka Ice (Vinicio Marchioni), he attempts to build a ruthless empire fueled by robberies, drugs, and bold power moves. As the gang’s influence spreads, bitter enemies are made and they can’t shake the attention of Inspector Nicola Scialoja (Marco Bocci) who relentlessly pursues them. 

Romanzo Criminale is technically about the rise of a criminal gang, but it’s just as much an epic tale of friendship, ambition and the destructive price of power.