Mistaken as a witness to a crime, Nino (Giuliano Gemma, The Iron Prefect), learns from a friend he has been put on a Mafia hit list and is being stalked by an assassin (Michele Placido, Romanzo Criminale). A man with a troubled past, Nino knows only too well what he faces and uses all his strength and cunning to keep himself and his family alive. Featuring stunning performances from both leads, Damiano Damiani (The Day of the Owl) applies his trademark realism and socio-political commentary to A Man on His Knees, charting Nino’s desperation as he refuses to kneel before the power of organised crime. Newly restored in 4K, Radiance Films is proud to present one of Damiani’s finest films on Blu-ray for the first time in the world.

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Video Quality

A Man on His Knees debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Radiance Films with a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative. The new transfer retains the natural grain structure that preserves the sumptuous ‘70s cinematography. This allows for discrete details to shine through in the costumes, backgrounds, and natural environments like the remote hills in the third act. A few lingering specks remain in the new transfer, but this source has been given a thorough and considerate clean-up. You may spot quick instances of softness that date back to the source photography. The colors are brilliantly saturated with hues filling up the screen. The contrast is resolute in all environments with firm highlights and no serious instances of black crush. The shadowy moments present some exceptional depth to the image. Radiance Films has delivered a top-notch visual presentation that maintains the quality for which they are known.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original Italian which handles the material admirably. Dialogue holds up with distinct clarity and without any significant signs of distortion. Conversations never get overshadowed by the sound effects or the score. The measured approach to the narrative allows for careful deployment of environmental sounds and other textural elements. The score from Franco Mannino comes through with agreeable fidelity. There is nearly nothing in the way of age-related wear and tear. Radiance Films has done well here. Optional English subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The first-pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray of A Man on His Knees includes a booklet featuring new writing by Roberto Curti. This gives great insight into the work of Damiano Damiani, the depiction of the mafia in cinema, and more. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Alberto Pezzotta: A new 24-minute interview with Alberto Pezzotta, author of Regia Damiano Damiani, in which he discusses where this film falls in the director’s output, the Italian cinematic landscape of the time, the reception of the film, the place of the mafia in Damiani’s stories, the director’s life in his later years and more.

Giuliano Gemma: A nine-minute archival interview with the actor in which he discusses his work with Damiano Damiani, his directing style, his thoughts on A Man On His Knees, memories of the production, and more.

Tano Cimarosa: A nine-minute archival interview with the actor-turned-director who speaks about his relationship with Damiano Damiani, his experiences working abroad, and more.

Mino Giarda: A 21-minute archival interview with the actor in which he discusses his late entry into acting, meeting Damiano Damiani, his uneven career, and more.

Trailer: The three-minute trailer is provided.

Final Thoughts

A Man on His Knees is a tense gem from Damiano Damiani, who plays in a familiar sandbox yet finds new ways to thrill and layer commentary in one fell swoop. The film has a fairly lengthy runtime, yet the narrative never feels like it drags thanks to the steady raising of the stakes. This is a standout in the crowded Italian crime drama subgenre. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and some worthwhile special features. The label keeps uncovering terrific films we otherwise would have been missing out on. Recommended

A Man on His Knees will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on September 24, 2024.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Radiance Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.