Alex Heaton (azanti0029) I have to admit, when I first grabbed this, it was on a recommendation from someone else, and I knew nothing about it at all, other than it was about the Police. What I got was a rather warts and all depiction of the lives of four Riot Squad Police Officers. The story begins with a new recruit joining the ranks who comes from the gutter himself, frequenting with the character types that the rest of the squad normally find themselves up against. The other topic that is explored heavily here is immigration and themes of patriotism and racism. Many layers of this are looked at and the film is especially clever at depicting the thin grey line between characters who are wanting Italy to turn to days of old and those who wish for the same but put the blame on the immigrants. Other subplots involve one character who is going through a messy divorce from an interracial relationship, another has his son joining the Italian equivalent of the National front while a third is on charges of brutality while the rookie seems to have an alternative motive for wanting the join the force. What the film lacks in a central plot thread it makes up for with its raw portrayal of these mens lives. The biggest problem might in fact be that you find it hard to sympathise with any of these characters as none of them are especially likable. On other films this would be more of a problem, but in this movie it doesn't stop you from getting into the story, because their lives are so compelling and while you may not like their characters you gradually have an understanding of where their anger comes from as your given an insight into their complex role they have to fulfil while balancing their personal and professional lives. Politicans do not give off lightly, using the police to resolve problems of their own making and then barely treating them any better than the people they often are in conflict with. They ultimately take the law into their own hands to resolve some grievances making me wonder how much such things really do go on. Its not an easy watch, but its worthwhile, and as someone else said, even if you don't agree with the directors political stance (I'm not sure what it was, as the protesters and hooligans aren't portrayed in a good light either) its a well made film with sterling performances from the four leads. This is a side to Italy that we wouldn't normally see. All Cops Are Bastards, perhaps so, but they're human just like the rest of us.

cinesimon Though it's not propaganda, given that it's not a government body trying to influence people toward their way of thinking - it's certainly the commercial equivalent. This movie is not an honest depiction of police in Italy. The beatings and killings get worse, and the accountability gets less. This is because over and over again, the brutal thugs - unhappy about themselves & their lives, take out their frustrations & self loathing on the public: those they're supposed to protect - have become untouchable. Yes, without doubt they are a tiny minority. The vast majority of cops do not engage in such brutal behavior. BUT - they will arrest those who're beaten, and help cover up assaults and even killings. They turn the other cheek when they see their thug brethren having their fun & getting their therapy. The 'good' cops do not report what they see - in fact they actively ensure that such behavior goes unreported. And they wonder why the public distrusts and despises them more every day? Do they really believe their dishonesty is believable? This is an extremely serious issue, in Italy and most western countries around the world, as corporations move to strike down democracy, & police are given free reign to brutalize those who don't like it. Yet a film like this seeks to diminish all that. Cops are the real victims, not the public. Utter hogwash, of course, and yet a further sign that police around the world have become gang and cult-like: it's them against the world. They have more in common with a cop from the other side of the world than they do their neighbors. They've separated themselves from communities, and now they seek to change how they're seen. Not by engaging with those they have power over in a positive way, but by pretending to be victims. This movies seeks to achieve that dubious perception - and it's a real shame.

Binoy Santhakumar (bonzybino) ACAP is a raw and honest attempt at showing the ignored lives of riot cops, at least their personal lives and internal issues are seldom spoken of! Shot and narrated in a Documentary style, it gives the movie a gritty reality, well complemented by some good performances from the cast. The background score does add value to the drama, the ending truly class.Italian being an alien language, I had to keep my eye on subtitles as well, which did mar my movie experience - I did watch it a second time without subtitles. I had to make a thorough study on the whole plot, the immigration issues and the hatredness for cops - it was all new to me. And once i got the hang of the issues being discussed, I really did love the movie, yea it might not be the the action thriller or biopic thriller the global audience would go after, but it deserves to be in the Global panorama, for the rawness and gruesome reality it shows, obviously the technical side should take a bow for making an outstanding movie product. 7.5/10

mysteryman7162 A.C.A.B is a phrase I grew up with in the U.K in the early eighties and was often seen tattooed on the fingers, necks and one time forehead of skinheads. I was intrigued to see it being used in Italy, that drew me to see the film.A.C.A.B the film centers on the exploits of small group of riot police in Rome.I found it to be very well paced, realistic though budgetary constraints made the riot scenes seem a little under populated. The characters were well developed and the action scenes well directed. There was a lot of racism in the film and the direction is kind of ambivalent about it.To conclude I would urge you to watch this film and form you own opinion.