Carlito's Way

The film takes place in 1975 in New York . One of the leaders of the local drug mafia, Puerto Rican Carlito Briganthe, with the help of his lawyer Dave Kleinfield, who works for the mafia, is released ahead of schedule after serving five years in prison. Carlito surprises Dave with his decision to break with the criminal past. Carlito visits the urban area in which he grew up and notices that during his long absence, profound changes have occurred: the balance of power between rival mafia clans has changed, many of their members are arrested or killed. Few recognize him as authority.

After the insistent requests of his young nephew, Guahiro Carlito reluctantly helps him to exchange a batch of drugs for money. But his nephew is cut down his throat, and Carlito is struggling to survive in a shootout. However, Carlito takes the money and hides from the bar. Later, Carlito invests this money in a nightclub, the manager of which he is invited to become Dave. Carlito is rebuilding his relationship with his former mistress Gail, who works as an “erotic dancer” in another nightlife and is still in love with him.

Dave Kleinfield's client, the head of one of the Italian mafia clans, Tony Taglialucci, who is in prison, accuses him of stealing a million dollars from him. Taglialucci sets an ultimatum to Kleinfield: “Either help me escape from prison, or my people will kill you.” Kleinfield, who stole the money, is becoming more and more immersed in depression and alcoholism and begins an affair with the mistress of the young Bronx gangster Benny Blanco, who often appears in Carlito's nightclub. Blanco pounces on Kleinfield, but Carlito orders his henchmen to beat Blanco. Blanco becomes the enemy of Carlito.

Reluctantly, Carlito agrees to help Kleinfield get his client out of jail. Carlito, Dave and son Taglialucci, Frankie on a motor yacht arrive at night to the walls of the prison, which is a special multi-deck barge drifting in the bay. Tony Taglialucci in the water, waving his arms, calls for help. His son, Carlito and Dave are approaching him. Dave is hitting the head of the sinking Taglialucci with a hook. He dies. Before that, Dave kills his son.

Kleinfield explains to Carlito that if he even saved Tony Taglialucci, he would have killed him anyway, and Taglialucci’s death can be explained as an unsuccessful attempt to escape and put the blame on the police. This explanation does not satisfy Carlito, who understands that mafiosi from the Taglialucci clan will begin to suspect him of the murder of their boss.

Kleinfield is beaten and he is in the hospital with several stab wounds. On the same day, the district attorney offers Carlito a deal. Kleinfield has long been the subject of an investigation by the prosecutor's office and, in order to remove the police from his tail, he set Briganthe up and tried to convince the district attorney that Carlito was still a drug dealer. Carlito listens to Dave’s recorded “revelations”; he is offered federal protection in exchange for testimony against Kleinfield. But Carlito, true to his code of honor, rejects this offer. At the hospital, Kleinfield confesses to betrayal and says that honor does not matter when his personal interests are at stake. Carlito quietly takes cartridges from Dave's revolver, which he held under his pillow. When Carlito leaves the house, he disagrees with the son of Taglialucci Winnie, dressed as a policeman and killing Kleinfield.

Carlito has one way out - to pick up his money from a nightclub and get out of New York with his pregnant Geilo from him. By working at the club, he accumulated a sum to buy a car rental in the Bahamas, which his old friend had suggested to him. Carlito agrees with Gail to meet at Central Station and leave for Miami.

Carlito in the club are met by mafiosi, including Vinnie Taglialucci. The Italians suspect Carlito of the murder, but are not completely sure of his guilt and want to talk with him. This allows Carlito to go into the office, collect the money and leave. He goes down the subway, but the Italians get on his tail. After a shootout on the station's escalator, he meets up with Gale and buddy Pachanga. Suddenly, Benny Blanco appears, who, having bribed Pachanga, recognized the meeting place. Blanco shoots several times at Carlito. Pachanga leans toward Carlito and apologizes with laughter for the betrayal. At this moment, Benny Blanco kills him. Carlito manages to transfer money to Gail. The film ends with Carlito's thoughts on the impending death and that a new, “improved” copy of Carlito will soon appear in the form of his son.

• Carlito's Way on the Internet Movie Database  
• Carlito's Way (English) on allmovie