Storyline

War seen through the eyes of Serra, a university student from Palermo who volunteers in 1942 to fight in Africa. He is assigned to the Pavia Division on the southern line in Egypt. Rommel and the Axis forces are bogged down; it's October, the British prepare an offensive. At first, boredom, heat, hunger, and thirst bedevil the Italians; then the Brits attack, and there's no luck or heroism in death. Finally, it's retreat in confusion. Serra, his sergeant Rizzo, and his lieutenant Fiori take a last walk toward home. It's said that each soldier gets three miracles; when Serra's are used up, what then?—

Plot Keywords

italian soldier, year 1942, minefield, british army, horse, rain, reference to benito mussolini, sniper, shooting, dead body, corpse, palm tree, mortar, burial, graveyard, cemetery, cross, digging a grave, crossing self, private

Short Review

This is the first World War II film I have seen from the Italian point of view. It is a slow movie, a little weird, but mostly a straight forward tale of gradual military defeat. I loved the atmosphere.

Trailer

Streaming Service

1. Amazon Video : Rent from $1.99, Or $0.00 with a Prime membership