The Mattei Affair (1972): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1972, The Mattei Affair is a thriller, drama, crime and history film directed by Francesco Rosi, running about 110 minutes. “On October 27, 1962, a plane crashed in Bascape, Italy, sparking an international intrigue...sabotage...disappearances and murders! These events are all the more bizarre because they are TRUE” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. 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.

Who’s in it. The Mattei Affair stars Gian Maria Volonté as Enrico Mattei, Luigi Squarzina as liberal journalist, Peter Baldwin as William McHale and Renato Romano as journalist, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, The Mattei Affair has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Mattei Affair page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Mattei Affair tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.