“Even imposters are useful”. So speaks the wise, wily Colonel Orsini (a brilliant performance from Toni Servillo) who leads an army from Northern Italy on its way to liberate Sicily from French Bourbon rule and bring about the unification of the country. The attitudes and behaviour of Sicilians are, however, often mysterious to Northerners, and that’s why Orsini values game-like strategies of deception, indirection and silence. He even has a soft spot for two deserters, explosives expert Domenico and cardsharp Rosario, who escape to pursue their own adventures. When General Garibaldi sends Orsini on what may be a suicidal detour, then every tactic is allowed…