General Della Rovere is a 1959 Italian-French film directed by Roberto Rossellini, starring Vittorio De Sica, Hannes Messemer, and Sandra Milo. The film is based on a novel by Indro Montanelli, who also co-wrote the screenplay.
The movie is set in World War II and revolves around a con man named Victorio Bardone, played by Vittorio De Sica. He is arrested and thrown into a prison cell for his crimes. While in prison, he meets Major Bergmann, a German officer, who wants him to impersonate a dead partisan general named General della Rovere.
The Gestapo believes that the real general had hidden a list containing the names of other partisans in the form of a microfilm. They intend to use Bardone to get access to the list and use it to neutralize the resistance movement. In exchange for his cooperation, Bardone is promised his freedom.
However, things get complicated when Bardone begins to identify with his new role and the resistance cause, and he becomes more invested in his impersonation than he anticipated. As he gains the trust of the other prisoners and the partisans, Bardone's loyalties and motivations become increasingly blurred.
The film explores themes of identity, morality, and the blurred lines between right and wrong during times of war. It received critical acclaim and won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival.
