Mattei’s personal story embodies the most complex moments of the historical and social period in which he lived, offering an example of rapid maturation
Enrico Mattei is a figure of primary importance in contemporary Italian history. His courage, spirit of initiative and faith in the abilities of the Italian people make him one of the major supporters of the country’s reconstruction. Thanks to the initiatives undertaken in Italy and around the world, including the creation of ENI, his name and his businesses have become immortal, so much so that it is not surprising that there are numerous documentaries on Enrico Mattei films and miniseries.
With the foundation of ENI, he set himself the goal of building a network of talented collaborators who could move easily in the international arena. This spirit of initiative and promotion shines through in the characters who play Enrico Mattei in films and TV series that embody the futuristic vision of this great character. And this becomes precisely one of the distinctive strengths that ENI, in addition to its specific interests, is able to offer to Italy’s diplomatic action.
With ENI Mattei therefore stands out for being a pioneer in promoting the frontier spirit and respect for different cultures. And even if today the theme of methane is mainly linked to costs (which we won’t talk about, but which you can read more about on this page dedicated to gas offers) it is undeniable that this man changed modern history thanks to his actions.
In fact, Mattei’s personal story embodies the most complex moments of the historical and social period in which he lived, offering an example of rapid growth. Just as his intense participation in the partisan and Christian democratic movement was no less.
But let’s see together two films about Enrico Mattei that faithfully describe the career and futuristic visions of this important figure in contemporary history.
Enrico Mattei film: “The Mattei case” (1972)
Let’s start right away with a very faithful screening of Enrico Mattei’s TV film which was very successful at the time. In fact “The Mattei case” is a 1972 film, directed by Francesco Rosi and dedicated to the figure of Enrico Mattei, president of ENI, who died in a plane crash in 1962. The film won the Grand Prix for best film at the 25th Cannes Film Festival.
The film tells the story of Mattei, from his appointment as extraordinary commissioner of AGIP in 1945 until his death in 1962. During the film, theories about the plane crash and possible political and criminal influences are explored. Despite the success, the film has never been released on DVD.
The projection begins in 1962 with the plane crash involving Enrico Mattei, Irnerio Bertuzzi and William McHale. What exactly happened during the return from the trip to Sicily has never been clarified. Subsequently, through a flashback to 1945, we see Mattei appointed commissioner of AGIP with the task of liquidating it, but instead decides to keep it alive and even strengthen it.
In 1960, Mattei signed an oil deal with the Soviet Union and met with French and English journalists. In 1970, a journalist disappears and the authorities exclude the Mattei lead, while the journalists consider it plausible, although a suspect is later arrested, then covering up the whole matter.
The film then moves on to the testimonies of Mattei’s last days in Sicily. Director Rosi also interviews a scholar and a former spy who support the plane sabotage theory. Finally, the film flashes back to 1962, showing the plane crash and rescue. In the background, the words of Enrico Mattei can be heard, which have become famous and concern his commitment to fight against the monopoly of the oil industry.
Enrico Mattei film: “The man who watched the future”
In addition to the already mentioned film on Enrico Mattei, TV series and documentaries have been another memorial of his history. “Enrico Mattei – The man who looked to the future” is an Italian television miniseries which was broadcast on Rai 1 on 3 and 4 May 2009.
The story begins with the last day of life of Enrico Mattei, the engineer and founder of ENI. On the morning of October 27, 1962, after giving his last speech in Gagliano Castelferrato, Mattei took a flight from Catania to Milan. Also aboard the plane is journalist William McHale, who has planned to interview Mattei.
During the flight, a series of flashbacks take place that take us back in time to 1936 in Milan, when Mattei began his working career. Next, we see how Mattei meets his wife Greta and marries her, and how he faces the difficulties of bringing Agip back to success after the war, despite the opposition of many.
However, his dreams are shattered when the plane crashes in Bascapè on the evening of October 27, 1962, in a rural area. The news of Mattei’s death was first communicated to Marcello Boldrini, a close friend of hers, who in turn communicated it to Greta, Mattei’s wife, who still hoped to embrace her husband again despite the dangers he ran into during his travels.
Initially, Mattei’s death is considered an accident. However, only 32 years later, in 1994, the Public Prosecutor of Pavia reopens the case and in 2005 ascertains the presence of explosives on the remains of the plane and on Mattei’s watch, filing the case as manslaughter, without having identified the responsible.
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