Set during a retreat of Christian Democrat politicians who practice spiritual exercises together, it is an allegory of corrupted power. Disturbing, claustrophobic settings are the background to a series of mysterious crimes.
| Directing | Elio Petri | Director |
| Writing | Elio Petri | Screenplay |
| Editing | Ruggero Mastroianni | Editor |
| Camera | Luigi Kuveiller | Director of Photography |
| Sound | Ennio Morricone | Original Music Composer |
| Production | Daniele Senatore | Producer |
| Art | Dante Ferretti | Production Design |
| Writing | Leonardo Sciascia | Novel |
| Art | Osvaldo Desideri | Set Decoration |
| Costume & Make-Up | Franco Carretti | Costume Design |
| Writing | Berto Pelosso | Co-Writer |
| Production | Francesco Genesi | Associate Producer |
| Production | Giorgio Cardelli | Associate Producer |
| Camera | Ubaldo Terzano | Camera Operator |
| Directing | Umberto Angelucci | First Assistant Director |
| Production | Vasco Mafera | Production Supervisor |
| Production | Alfredo Petri | Production Supervisor |
| Camera | Sergio Strizzi | Still Photographer |
| Sound | Mario Bramonti | Sound |
| Costume & Make-Up | Alfonso Gola | Makeup Department Head |
| Camera | Sergio Emidi | Key Grip |
| Lighting | Sergio Coletta | Gaffer |
| Production | Stefano Pegoraro | Production Manager |
| Sound | Ennio Morricone | Conductor |
| Camera | Renato Palmieri | Assistant Camera |
| Camera | Antonio Tonti | Assistant Camera |
| Directing | Giovanni Piccioni | Second Assistant Director |
| Directing | Luigina Lovari | Script Supervisor |
| Production | Janice Munro | Production Secretary |
| Sound | Giulio Viggiani | Boom Operator |
| Costume & Make-Up | Pietro Tenoglio | Makeup Artist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Giusy Bovino | Hairstylist |
| Editing | Cecilia Catalucci | Assistant Editor |
| Editing | Erminia Marani | Assistant Editor |
| Editing | Ivana Boggian | Assistant Editor |
| Production | Hermes Gallippi | Administration |
| Production | Antonio Mastronardi | Administration |
| Costume & Make-Up | Tiziana Mancini | Assistant Costume Designer |
| Visual Effects | Italo Cameracanna | Visual Effects |
| Sound | Franco Bassi | Sound Mixer |
| Sound | Alberto Bartolomei | Sound Mixer |
