The Contino Tragedy

The Shape of Water

A brief attempt to intervene in an old couple’s domestic crisis ends in murder-suicide and leaves Montalbano with guilt.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

An Old Man at the Lighthouse An Old Man at the Lighthouse from "The Shape of Water". An Old Man at the Lighthouse Interrupted Attempt Montalbano finds the elderly schoolteacher Giosuè Contino preparing to jump into the sea.

An Old Man at the Lighthouse from "The Shape of Water". An Old Man at the Lighthouse Interrupted Attempt Montalbano finds the elderly schoolteacher Giosuè Contino preparing to jump into the sea.

An Old Man at the Lighthouse Interrupted Attempt Montalbano finds the elderly schoolteacher Giosuè Contino preparing to jump into the sea. He pulls him back from the edge. A Startling Reason Contino explains that he believes his elderly wife is unfaithful.

The Jealous Accusation The Jealous Accusation from "The Shape of Water". The Jealous Accusation A Rival Named Contino suspects former postman De Francesco, who drinks coffee beneath his balcony and allegedly looks at his wife.

The Jealous Accusation from "The Shape of Water". The Jealous Accusation A Rival Named Contino suspects former postman De Francesco, who drinks coffee beneath his balcony and allegedly looks at his wife.

The Jealous Accusation A Rival Named Contino suspects former postman De Francesco, who drinks coffee beneath his balcony and allegedly looks at his wife. Montalbano’s Response The inspector questions De Francesco but cannot find a practical way to resolve Contino’s obsession.

A Balcony Shooting A Balcony Shooting from "The Shape of Water". A Balcony Shooting Crisis Returns Contino fires from his balcony at people below, shouting incoherently.

A Balcony Shooting from "The Shape of Water". A Balcony Shooting Crisis Returns Contino fires from his balcony at people below, shouting incoherently.

A Balcony Shooting Crisis Returns Contino fires from his balcony at people below, shouting incoherently. A bullet grazes De Francesco and another nearly hits Fazio. Intervention Police enter the apartment, but the crisis has already passed into irreversible violence.

The Couple’s Deaths The Couple’s Deaths from "The Shape of Water". The Couple’s Deaths Final Violence Contino kills his wife and then himself. She is found holding a rosary, while the rooms remain meticulously orderly.

The Couple’s Deaths from "The Shape of Water". The Couple’s Deaths Final Violence Contino kills his wife and then himself. She is found holding a rosary, while the rooms remain meticulously orderly.

The Couple’s Deaths Final Violence Contino kills his wife and then himself. She is found holding a rosary, while the rooms remain meticulously orderly. A Different Death Montalbano sees a dignity in this scene absent from Luparello’s public humiliation.

Regret After the Scene Regret After the Scene from "The Shape of Water". Regret After the Scene Self-Reproach Montalbano wonders whether a wiser conversation, or warning Contino’s doctor and friends, might have prevented the…

Regret After the Scene from "The Shape of Water". Regret After the Scene Self-Reproach Montalbano wonders whether a wiser conversation, or warning Contino’s doctor and friends, might have prevented the…

Regret After the Scene Self-Reproach Montalbano wonders whether a wiser conversation, or warning Contino’s doctor and friends, might have prevented the tragedy. Limits of Authority The episode sharpens his sense that intervention does not guarantee control over another person’s choices.

Six months before the central investigation

Later that same evening

The day Montalbano visits the factory

Minutes after the shooting

That evening