Luca Guadagnino’s ‘The Protagonists’ Explores True Crime with Unconventional Style

Luca Guadagnino‘s directorial debut, ‘The Protagonists,’ blends documentary and fiction to explore a brutal 1994 murder in London. The film, released in 1999, follows an Italian film crew as they investigate the killing of Mohamed el-Sayed by two upper-class teens, James Petrolini and Richard Elsey, who sought to commit a random act of violence. The movie alternates between the crew’s behind-the-scenes dynamics and the chilling details of the crime, creating a provocative commentary on society’s fascination with true crime.

The film stars Tilda Swinton and Fabrizia Sacchi as themselves, leading the fictional documentary team. Swinton’s character interviews key figures involved in the case, while the narrative delves into the killers’ bizarre motives, drawing comparisons to the infamous Leopold and Loeb case. Guadagnino’s experimental approach includes surreal sequences, such as one where a killer cries in a phone booth under eerie red lighting, and another where Swinton appears covered in fake blood, questioning its theatricality.

‘The Protagonists’ also examines themes of desire and queerness, with hints of repressed feelings between the killers. Guadagnino’s signature style, later seen in films like ‘Call Me by Your Name‘ and ‘Suspiria,’ emerges in this early work, blending reality with fantasy. The film’s unconventional structure and provocative scenes have made it a lesser-known but significant entry in Guadagnino’s career.

Despite its mixed reception, ‘The Protagonists’ marked the beginning of Guadagnino’s collaborations with Tilda Swinton and editor Walter Fasano. The film is now available for streaming on Mubi in the U.S., offering audiences a chance to explore the origins of Guadagnino’s unique cinematic vision.