Abstract

Accused of having endorsed the Republic of Salò, Francesco De Robertis actually spent the last two years of the war between arrests, detentions and uncertain employment opportunities. Based on new testimonies and documents, this essay reconstructs the most mysterious and misunderstood period of the author of "Uomini sul fondo" at the root of his subsequent depreciation, and sheds new light on "La vita semplice", the only film directed in Venice by the «Comandante».