Salvatore Giuliano, the bandit, together with his rag-tag band of guerrillas, attempted to liberate early 1950s Sicily from Italian rule and make it an American state. Giuliano robs from the rich conservative landowners to give to the peasants, who in turn hail him as their savior. As his popularity grows, so does his ego, and he eventually thinks he is above the power of his backer, Mafia Don Masino Croce. The Don, in turn, sets out to kill the upstart by convincing his cousin and closest adviser Gaspare to assassinate him. Salvatore Giuliano markeerde de internationale doorbraak van de neorealistische regisseur Francesco Rosi, die met zijn politiek gemotiveerde biografie van de ‘Siciliaanse Robin Hood’ de Zilveren Beer van het filmfestival Berlijn won. Keuzefilm van Martin Scorsese, die de film omschrijft als een hymne aan het geboorteland van zijn voorouders.