Mediterraneo
1992
Set during World War II, the story follows eight Italian soldiers sent to guard a small Greek island. After their ship is sunk and their radio breaks down, it seems as if they no longer exist. Eventually a small Italo/Greek community is formed and the locals forget why they came. The soldiers' characters and beliefs start to .. Read more
| Starring | Diego Abatantuono, Claudio Bigagli, Giuseppe Cederna, Gigio Alberti |
|---|---|
| Director | Gabriele Salvatores |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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Mediterraneo
Set during World War II, the story follows eight Italian soldiers sent to guard a small Greek island. After their ship is sunk and their radio breaks down, it seems as if they no longer exist. Eventually a small Italo/Greek community is formed and the locals forget why they came. The soldiers' characters and beliefs start to change and they have no desire to return to the war. Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film, 1992. Italian dialogue.
| Starring | Diego Abatantuono, Claudio Bigagli, Giuseppe Cederna, Gigio Alberti, Ugo Conti |
|---|---|
| Director | Gabriele Salvatores |
| Studio | CINEMA CLUB |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 26 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: Italian |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 14 Jun 2004 Production year: 1992 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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As with so many recent winners of the Oscar for best foreign language film, this is an undemanding picture closer to the Hollywood brand of light entertainment than to art house gravitas. Set in a largely forgotten theatre of the Second World War, the action centres on eight Italian soldiers sent to guard the strategically negligible Greek island of Kastellorizo. The interaction between the mismatched squad and its increasingly amicable relationship with the islanders throws up few novel situations, but everything is done with such sleepy good humour that it makes for easy watching. Director Gabriele Salvatores rather spoils things with a sentimental epilogue, however.
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Eight mismatched, unwilling Italian combatants and a donkey land on a tiny Greek island in 1941 in order to capture it... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Fresh Mediterranean air!
Apologies: the character's names have slipped my mind: watch the film to find out!
I liked everything about this Second World War film: it was a well made film, well acted, beautifully exploiting the Mediterranean scenery. The Italian dialogue, as sub-titled, reflected real people in a potentially dangerous situation.
An Italian squad of nine soldiers occupies an apparently deserted Greek island. They could possibly be wiped out at any moment. Then they find a colony of Greek women and children hiding at the other end of the island.
A young woman steps out to announce that she is the local prostitute, and is prepared to trade. This seems to set relationships between the groups on a sensible footing. The Italians are not out for trouble, in fact they find their new surroundings very congenial, and the war becomes sidelined.
Stability is threatened somewhat when the lieutenant's batman begins to fall for the girl they're all sleeping with, and she for him - there's even a bit of violence!
You will note that (at least for now) all the actors are virtual unknowns, but the characters they play are well delineated, real and interesting. This film should give a lovely breath of fresh Mediterranean air. -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Benissimo
For the first hour this shapes up as the film Capt Corelli should have been but wasn't. Lovable italian soldiers cast adrift on a remote Greek island by their own forces as WW2 passes them by. Nothing better to do than fraternise with the local girls then!
However, it seems that the writer or director lost interest and the story just seems to fizzle out. Still, good for testing one's italian and the scenery and island girls keep the interest up! -
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