The kind of deep questions this genre usually brings up—like what it means to stay honest when survival is at stake—are handled well in Last Night of Amore. Andrea Di Stefano, the film’s writer and director, approaches these moral questions while still giving space for suspense and action to breathe throughout the story.
While the movie centres on the expected battle between upright cops and shady dealings, it also examines personal struggle and betrayal. Franco Amore, a police officer known for his clean record, makes a decision that changes everything just a few days before his retirement.
One final shift becomes a test of loyalty and survival (Photo: Last Night Of Amore/MeMo Films, Indiana Production, and Adler Entertainment)He agrees to work as a security provider for a Chinese businessman, but things go wrong on his final working day, putting his integrity and career at risk.
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In ‘Last Night Of Amore’?
Franco Amore’s last day in uniform turned into something he never imagined. Just over a week earlier, he had managed to save the life of a Chinese businessman, Zhang Zhu, who nearly died from a heart condition.
It was Cosimo, Franco’s brother-in-law, who had close business ties with Zhu and thought Franco could offer private security services to him. Given his 35 years of experience in the police force, Franco seemed like the perfect choice for such a job.
Unlike many others in law enforcement, he didn’t come across as intimidating or hardened, which might be because of his life at home. His cheerful and lively wife, Viviana, brought warmth into their household, always staying close rather than leaving him alone in his battles.
Even though her involvement sometimes bothered him, Franco often found her presence helpful. He also had a daughter from a previous marriage who was studying overseas. With retirement ahead, Franco had hoped to spend more time with his daughter. But as it turned out, life had a different direction for him.
After saving Zhu, Franco met with him under Cosimo’s arrangement and agreed to offer security, similar to what he once provided Cosimo. Franco made his rules clear to Zhu’s son-in-law—he wouldn’t be involved if guns or drugs were part of the deal.
Everyone seemed to agree to these conditions. Though he had reservations after seeing some Chinese criminals detained, the extra income was tempting, especially since living on just a pension wouldn’t be easy. A final assignment came up right before retirement.
Franco thought about skipping it, but the money persuaded him to go ahead. That job ended up costing him dearly, especially with the tragic death of his friend and partner, Dino.
How Did Dino Die?
Franco spoke to Dino about the assignment a few days before they were both meant to retire. Since the plan included sharing the payment and seemed harmless, Dino agreed to help. With a young son to care for, Dino assumed the job wouldn’t be dangerous.
The day before Franco’s retirement, which also happened to be his birthday, both men set out to transport a Chinese couple linked to Zhu. The couple carried a briefcase that seemed important, but Franco didn’t pay attention to its contents. His only concern was getting through the assignment and collecting the money.
Things began to go wrong when their car had a flat tire. The Chinese passengers became nervous, and Franco and Dino tried to manage the situation. Then a police vehicle started following them, forcing Franco to pull over.
Though he believed he could handle it, the officers, part of Italy’s Carabiniera—refused to listen, even after he identified himself as local police. Their attitude raised questions in Franco’s mind, but before he could act, the Chinese man unexpectedly shot one of the officers.
Chaos erupted, leading to the death of everyone except Franco. When he checked the briefcase, he discovered diamonds inside. In a moment of panic, he tossed the case off an old bridge and fled.
Why Doesn’t Franco Surrender?
Just after the situation turned disastrous, Franco called Viviana to bring him a clean set of clothes. She had planned a surprise party for his birthday, but everything changed when Franco told her about Dino’s death and the failed assignment.
Franco felt the need to go to the police and confess everything, including his dealings with Zhang Zhu, but Viviana persuaded him against it. She believed they could disappear and begin a fresh life elsewhere. If word of Franco’s involvement got out, it would ruin his entire career.
Franco eventually backed away from surrendering—not just due to Viviana’s hope for escape—but because he still thought he could make sense of what had gone wrong and identify who had caused the assignment to fall apart.
After showing up at his party to keep up appearances and create an alibi, Franco later visited the crime scene. There, he realised something was off. Someone had planted the Chinese man’s weapon on Dino, making it seem like Dino had killed one of the Carabiniera officers.
Before she died, the second officer had called for backup, and Franco managed to take a photo of her call log before leaving. That phone number led him to a Carabiniera officer who had seen him fleeing the scene. If that officer revealed Franco’s identity, it could send him to jail.
For now, Franco stayed silent, but one question continued to bother him: Who told the officers about the diamonds?
‘Last Night Of Amore’ Ending Explained: Is Franco Dead?
Franco later helped Viviana retrieve the diamonds and asked her to take Dino’s son, Ernesto, to the village where Dino came from, promising to join them afterwards. It was now clear to Franco who had orchestrated the entire setup.
When the female officer was dying, she had shown confusion and anger, hinting that she had been told Franco wouldn’t get involved in violence. Cosimo had said something similar. Since only Cosimo knew about Franco’s involvement, Franco suspected him.
Trust breaks faster than bullets on Franco’s last night (Photo: Last Night Of Amore/MeMo Films, Indiana Production, and Adler Entertainment)Cosimo had likely pushed Franco into working with Zhu, hoping Franco wouldn’t interfere with the diamond heist. Without delay, Franco confronted Cosimo, tied him up, and brought him to Zhu.
Cosimo confessed that Zhu’s son-in-law had masterminded the whole thing and that he had only helped connect the corrupt officers through his cousin, Tito. Although Franco had reached the truth, trouble still lingered. Zhu had lost the diamonds, now in Viviana’s possession.
When asked to return them, Franco refused, explaining it was a penalty for breaking their original agreement. Had the Chinese man not carried a gun, none of the killings would have happened. Franco also wanted the diamonds to serve as financial support for Ernesto.
If the investigation eventually linked Franco to the crime, he could lose his pension, and the diamonds might be the only way Viviana and his daughter could survive. With that explanation, he walked out of the building, finished his service, and announced his retirement.
But a man stepped out behind him—possibly one of Zhu’s men, ready to end Franco’s life. It seems Franco might have been killed. That man could have been a guard sent by Zhu to punish Franco for keeping the diamonds. But the events of the last day had completely changed how Franco saw things.
He had been betrayed by his brother-in-law and was full of anger. Once viewed as honest but soft, Franco had become a different person. He used to fear pulling the trigger, but now, after watching Dino die due to his hesitation, Franco might not hesitate again.
So, it’s possible that this new version of him would shoot first if he sensed a threat, just to get back to his family. Yet, the film’s title—Last Night of Amore—might be pointing to his death.
Then again, it could also mean that his days as a rule-following, straight-laced officer were over, and from that point forward, he would no longer be the man who waited for criminals to strike first.
