Based upon true events in Sicily during the late 1980's/early 1990's, LA SCORTA is the story of five men who have the unenviable task of bodyguard to a no-nonsense prosecutor (judge) determined to bring down not only the mob, but also the corrupt judges & politicians. Faced with death at every turn, the four bond with their judge into a family to bring justice to an island gone out of control.

The film opens with a beautiful sunset over the harbor town of Trapani - and the violent gangland slaying of a judge and his bodyguard. Police Officer Angelo takes the train into Sicily on a new assignment, but first he visits his mother. She's worried about him because the murdered guard was his best friend, and now Angelo is to be assigned as the new judge's escort. He tells her all will be O.K., although he doesn't sound convinced himself. At the barracks, Angelo meets another friend Fabio, and they are assigned to the same judge under the leadership of stern Andrea. The next day, it's all business as Angelo, Andrea, Fabio and the drivers Raffaele and Nicola escort Sicily's new judge De Francesco to work. It's a tense situation; budget restrictions make the bodyguards' job tougher -their old cars keep breaking down, and they have only two bulletproof vests. Angelo meets an old flame Anna at the prosecutor's office, but there are some obvious unresolved issues between them. Meanwhile, Andrea, the only guard with a family, finds it's getting harder to reassure his wife he'll be safe. In his downtime, Angelo searches the city looking for information on the assassination of his friend.

De Francesco is disgusted by the Mafia's 'de facto' power and shuts off the city's mob controlled water supply to force the hoods into the open. However, his plan backfires as the press and his bosses have a field day at his expense. Plus, the mob sends him a death threat; De Francesco believes that means he's on the right track if he's got them worried. But the stress is cracking the team; Fabio works on a transfer as tensions between Angelo and Andrea explode into fisticuffs. Andrea thinks Angelo is a 'loose cannon' while Angelo feels Andrea is an opportunistic ass-kisser. The next day, Andrea confides to his boss it was he who has been keeping head judge Caruso of De Francesco's work, and that's why the prosecutor is having a hard time getting things done. Andrea offers to leave, but the judge states he won't get rid of an honest man. To mend fences, Andrea has the team over for dinner. After the wife and kids leave, De Francesco tells the boys things are going to get even rougher -they are the only ones he can now trust. They must band together and get the evidence to bring down the Mafia and the corrupt officials by themselves. Andrea, Angelo and the others pledge their unconditional support. Who will live - and who will die as these modern 'Untouchables' swing into action against all odds...

As an action film, LA SCORTA hits on all cylinders. Director Ricky Tognazzi makes a real connection with the audience by driving his film like we were with the bodyguards; you never know if death is around the next corner. Tension mounts, as even the smallest details become objects that could spell doom for the judge and his men. And when the inevitable happens - it will still blow you away. As a drama, the film is exceptionally compelling. The progression of the bodyguards from mere 'bullet-stoppers' to a true family (with the judge as father, naturally) is the true heart of the film. The ups and downs of their intertwining relationships takes the audience on a real emotional roller coaster. However, if I must quibble, I wish the background stories of the escorts had been more fully explored. Bits and pieces of their lives are only hinted at, like Angelo's relationship with Anna (which becomes important to the plot). My guess is that because LA SCORTA is based on an actual judge and his experience in Trapani, Tognazzi wanted to keep things stripped down to be more realistic. But these characters are so interesting I wish I knew more about what makes them tick. Obviously, the actors give phenomenal performance; the evolution of the group from desperate escorts to real comrades in arm is as compelling as any 'male-bonding' film. The direction and editing are focused on making every frame of the film suspenseful (even on a picnic.), with the camera constantly moving like the escorts themselves - always on the lookout. The camera style reminds me of TV's "NYPD Blue" by comparison. The iconic Ennio Morricone provides the score, which as always reinforces the images on screen and helps drive LA SCORTA to its explosive climax.

LA SCORTA has been released on DVD with some really good extras. There is the short "Judging LA SCORTA" which features interviews with the crew and cast - absolutely essential the hear their anecdotes on the film's production. There is a feature-length commentary by Tognazzi and producer Claudio Bonivento (done in English as "Q&A" style) that further gives the stories behind the real events that influenced the film and the struggles to just get the movie made. Oh yeah, there are the obligatory trailers as well - in English and Italian!

LA SCORTA is an action-packed drama, told from a new perspective - the men whose job is to protect, and die, for their assigned client. Set against the real-life experiences of a judge and his escorts, the film has unrelenting tension and a moving story of a different sort of family. The day of reckoning is coming; justice will be done -for not even death can stop LA SCORTA!