Elio Petri's first feature film, _L'assassino_ , deals with the vicissitudes of a shameless young antiquarian grappling with the murder of his former lover. From the typical structure of the crime film, the director takes us into a story somewhere between comedy and detective story, within the frame of an Italy that is changing by the day. Although not entirely satisfying in terms of content and direction, it is overall an enjoyable product. The director's debut portends a rosy future, but we will have to wait and see to what extent.