A.C.A.B. – A Gritty Dive into Reality

You know that feeling when a film sort of whacks you in the face and leaves you wondering what just happened? That’s kinda what A.C.A.B. (All Cops Are Bastards) did to me. It’s a raw narrative directed by Stefano Sollima, a familiar name if you’re into Italian cinema. And starring the likes of Pierfrancesco Favino—seriously, he’s legendary—it hits hard, man.

Now, I must admit, I was kinda hesitant to dive into a film tackling such a hot-button issue like police brutality. But there’s a gritty authenticity to it. The film paints a fierce portrait of four riot cops in Rome navigating this chaotic labyrinth of violence, society, and, well, their own demons. And boy, does it smudge the lines of “good” and “bad.”

Seeing A.C.A.B. threw me back to the winter of ’76, oddly enough, during when I was stuck on a train from Växjö to Stockholm because of a snowstorm. Just like in the movie when everything is going haywire, it felt like a beautiful mess—everything out of my control. But the camaraderie among strangers that snowy night, sharing outlandish stories, is echoed in the film. The bond and tension between the cops felt like a mirror to that night.

Some moments in the film were like a punch in the gut, while others were surprisingly tender—still, it doesn’t shy away from its message. Sollima, with his intricate storytelling, blends explosive action with contemplative pauses, making you almost forget to breathe.

Did it hit every mark? Maybe not. Sometimes it felt as if it was trying too hard, stretching reality a bit too thin. But isn’t that part of the charm? It gets you curious, doesn’t it? A.C.A.B. isn’t just a film, it’s a conversation—a prickly, essential one that might just stick with you long after the credits roll.

Check the trailer below