Ternosecco (1987) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A wrongly imprisoned dream interpreter uses criminal alliances and revenge to expose the truth behind a family murder.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Murder Above The Shop

Raffaele is strangled, and Domenico is accused of the crime. Brigida is left vulnerable while Domenico is sent to Poggioreale prison.

Key Events

• Raffaele Is Strangled — Raffaele is brutally strangled during a hot summer night. Location: Raffaele's apartment
• Domenico Is Accused — Police accuse Domenico of the murder while Brigida remains connected to the crime scene. Characters: Domenico, Brigida Location: The betting shop building
• Arrival At Poggioreale — Domenico is imprisoned in Poggioreale after the accusation. Characters: Domenico Location: Poggioreale prison
• Parente Takes Brigida In — Parente takes care of Brigida while Domenico is imprisoned. Characters: Brigida, Avv. Parente Location: Parente's home

A Prison Patron

Don Salvatore takes an interest in Domenico and promotes him because of his dream-interpretation abilities. Outside prison, Parente takes Brigida in and becomes her lover.

Key Events

• Don Salvatore Notices Domenico — Don Salvatore becomes interested in Domenico inside the prison. Characters: Domenico, Don Salvatore Location: Poggioreale prison
• Domenico Becomes Taster — Don Salvatore promotes Domenico as a taster and values his dream interpretations. Characters: Domenico, Don Salvatore Location: Poggioreale prison
• Dreams Become Criminal Forecasts — Domenico's dream readings are used to anticipate criminal operations. Characters: Domenico, Don Salvatore Location: Poggioreale prison
• Parente Becomes Brigida's Lover — While Domenico remains imprisoned, Brigida becomes Parente's mistress. Characters: Brigida, Avv. Parente, Domenico Location: The city

The Criminal Network Tightens

Murders ordered from prison increase the pressure on the Camorra associates. Fear centers on compromising papers hidden in Don Salvatore's safe.

Key Events

• Two Men Are Murdered — Two men in the city are killed on orders connected to Don Salvatore. Characters: Don Salvatore, Domenico Location: The city
• Associates Fear The Papers — Associates fear the compromising papers kept in Don Salvatore's home safe. Characters: Don Salvatore, Avv. Parente Location: The city
• Domenico Is Released — Don Salvatore arranges Domenico's release to frighten the criminal associates. Characters: Domenico, Don Salvatore Location: Poggioreale prison
• Domenico Intimidates Associates — Domenico uses fear and his reputation to pressure the associates involved in illegal affairs. Characters: Domenico, Avv. Parente Location: The city

Poison And Retribution

Domenico is released to intimidate the associates, then poisons Don Salvatore and fails to find the hidden papers. A series of revenge killings follows.

Key Events

• Don Salvatore Is Poisoned — Domenico poisons Don Salvatore and then searches for the missing papers. Characters: Domenico, Don Salvatore Location: Don Salvatore's residence
• The Safe Search Fails — Domenico searches unsuccessfully for the compromising papers. Characters: Domenico Location: Don Salvatore's residence
• Associates Die One By One — Members of the local Camorra group begin dying in separate revenge attacks. Characters: Domenico, Avv. Parente Location: The city
• Death By Drowning — Some of the criminal associates are killed by drowning. Characters: Domenico Location: The city
• Construction Explosion — Other associates die in an explosion near a reconstruction site for earthquake victims. Characters: Domenico Location: An earthquake reconstruction site

Truth At Gunpoint

Domenico gives Parente the concealed papers and reveals that he murdered Brigida's father. Brigida kills Parente, after which Domenico surrenders and returns to prison revered.

Key Events

• Cold Room Killing — Another associate dies inside the large cold room of an orphanage. Characters: Domenico Location: An orphanage's cold room
• Parente Receives The Papers — Domenico gives Parente the papers that Parente had previously concealed. Characters: Domenico, Brigida, Avv. Parente Location: The final confrontation site
• Parente Is Exposed — Domenico tells Brigida that Parente murdered her father. Characters: Domenico, Brigida, Avv. Parente Location: The final confrontation site
• Brigida Shoots Parente — Brigida kills Parente after learning the truth about her father's murder. Characters: Brigida, Avv. Parente, Domenico Location: The final confrontation site
• The Final Gunfight — A gunfight follows the confrontation and Parente's death. Characters: Domenico, Brigida Location: The final confrontation site
• Domenico Surrenders — After the gunfight, Domenico turns himself in to the prison. Characters: Domenico Location: Poggioreale prison
• Domenico Returns Revered — Domenico returns to prison with greater veneration and respect than before. Characters: Domenico Location: Poggioreale prison

Story Breakdown

• Murdered Shopkeeper — The killing of Brigida's father creates the false case against Domenico and sets the revenge story in motion.
  • Summer Night Killing — Raffaele is brutally strangled in his apartment.
  • False Accusation — Police accuse Domenico of the murder.
• Prison Transfer — Domenico enters Poggioreale prison, where his unusual talent attracts powerful criminal attention.
  • Poggioreale Imprisonment — Domenico is sent to prison after the accusation.
  • Camorra Patronage — Don Salvatore takes Domenico under his protection.
• Dreams And Numbers — Domenico's ability to interpret dreams becomes valuable within Don Salvatore's criminal operations.
  • Taster Promotion — Don Salvatore promotes Domenico as a taster.
  • Criminal Forecasts — Dream interpretations help anticipate planned criminal actions.
• Betrayal Outside Prison — Brigida is placed under Parente's care, and their affair deepens the personal betrayal surrounding Domenico.
  • Parente Takes Her In — The lawyer assumes responsibility for Brigida.
  • Secret Affair — Parente becomes Brigida's lover while Domenico remains imprisoned.
• Hidden Criminal Papers — The compromising papers become the object of fear, manipulation, and the final revelation.
  • Safe At Home — The papers are believed to be in Don Salvatore's safe.
  • Failed Search — Domenico cannot find the papers after poisoning Don Salvatore.
• Release And Revenge — Domenico leaves prison to intimidate the associates and begins a violent campaign against the criminal group.
  • Intimidating Associates — Domenico frightens men involved in illegal affairs.
  • Deaths Across Naples — Associates die through drowning, explosion, and a cold-room killing.
• Parente's Exposure — The final confrontation reveals Parente's responsibility for the original murder and transforms Brigida's loyalty into vengeance.
  • Papers Handed Over — Domenico gives Parente the concealed compromising papers.
  • Father's Murder Revealed — Domenico tells Brigida that Parente killed her father.
• Prisoner Returns — After Brigida kills Parente and the gunfight ends, Domenico surrenders and returns to prison with enhanced respect.
  • Brigida's Execution — Brigida shoots Parente after learning the truth.
  • Revered Surrender — Domenico turns himself in and is more respected in prison.

Directed by

Giancarlo Giannini

Key Cast

• Giancarlo Giannini — Domenico
• Victoria Abril — Brigida
• Lino Troisi — Avv. Parente
• Franco Angrisano — Gargiulo
• George Gaynes — Don Salvatore