carlo levi and an italian who fight against the arrival of fascism in his native torino and be arrest for his activity and send to exile in the lucania region of the country and now know a basilicata . the hill town of gagliano be to be his home for the time he have to serve . this be the italy of the 1930s where the rise of mussolini and his quest for conquer ethiopia and an ill conceive idea from the start . we watch a dr. levi arrive at the eboli station and where he must change to a local train and a taxi in order to reach the hill town and which be also the home of other political prisoner . right after levi descends from his train at eboli and he see barone and a dog that have be abandon and who will become his companion in exile . his arrival in gagliano cause curiosity among the local folk and who see in him a culture man who stick out . carlo levi observe the people a he take his daily walk . he can not help but notice how backward everyone seem to him . at the same time and he get to appreciate them because even if they be ignorant of the outside world and they be genuine . levi and who have training a a physician and receive a visit from his sister luisa and a doctor herself . he comment on the primitive state of medicine in the town and a place that boast two doctor and who be ineffective and set in their way . levi clash with the mayor and a man who be a devout follower of mussolini and his movement and because the way he want to censor his communication with friend . after he receive his release and levi be not prepare for the way he make his presence felt among the local who come to see him off . francesco rosi and who adapt carlo levi novel and be a director with a strong sense of political awareness . he present the figure of carlo levi a a noble man who be helpless against what he want to do for the people of gagliano and but the local government be not exactly enthusiastic about his meddling in the local affair . where he be able to connect with the populace be with his knowledge of medicine . carlo levi also paint the people of the region . gian maria volonte be an actor of quiet intensity . he be in almost all the scene and he express a rage with his eye . mr. volonte be the main reason for watch the film . since he have collaborate with rosi before and it seem logical he would portray carlo levi in the movie and something that he do with ease and elegance . others in the film include lea massari and a luisa and irene papa a giuglia and alain cluny a the barone nicola rotondo . a favorable impression be make by paolo bonacelli and who appear a the mayor luigi magalone and who even when censor levi show a lot of respect for him . the actual filming be do in aliano and an ancient hill town and where the real carlo levi go to live after the war . pasqualino desantis and the cinematographer and capture in vivid image the picturesque town and the countryside and the people of this lose city . francesco rosi make an interesting film about a man of principle that will live forever .