The Great War (Mario Monicelli) From rhetoric can not escape at the end of every war we tend to mythologizing the events, he reworked to try to metabolize in such a way that, unmistakably, the winner can paint himself as the unblemished hero and without fear that made the triumph of justice, democracy and freedom in defiance of any risk and pain, and the loser becomes inevitably the bad, the despot, an evil monster. The losers, of course, overturn the whole thing and retract like those losers, yes, but with honor and thanks only to events that no one could resist: betrayals, the enemy's overwhelming superiority, natural disasters. Everyone is free to interpret war as he wants, but rarely escapes from these extremes. The war of 1915-18, the Great War was, for us Italians, always a source of pride.
Despite an uncertain trend and a victory that cost us, which has cost to those who have fought and those who have suffered, died, sweat, blood and pain in huge quantities. Contains all the glorious pages, it is true, but also Loss hard to swallow. Not to mention the conditions under which so many soldiers, many men, many boys were sent to fight and die. For this reason, in Italy, for so many years of the First World War was not discussed. Had been idealized, and that's a great victory: no mention of the rest, all the things that war inevitably brings with it.
Mario Monicelli (born in 1915) had conducted the first year of "The Great War" one of the greatest achievements of Italian comedy, that "The usual suspects" who saw one of its protagonists Vittorio Gassman (who will direct still in "L'armata Brancaleone" and "Brancaleone the Crusades "). It was formed as a film director working in collaboration with Steno (Stefano Vanzina), directing some of the "Italian comedy" Toto. The news of the will to make a movie "comic" about the First World War, at the time, sparked controversy and criticism from the press and the army. Those responsible for the production and distribution, then, were not favorable to the tragic end: in a movie "comic" that respects the happy ending is a must. Monicelli managed to prevail in the end he had created, and public success was, for the time, enormous. The film won the "Golden Lion" in Venice, on a par with "General Della Rovere" by Roberto Rossellini.
"The Great War" is a difficult film to classify. Despite the fact that it is always listed as part of the great family film appartententi the "Italian comedy" to be seen, in my view, forgetting the label. In the film there, to tell the truth, moments of humor, but these are always diluted and diluted in a general atmosphere that contrasted with the laughter so shrill. The trench warfare, the soldiers' conditions, transfers to feet, the lack of material, the fatalism that winds even in the officers, the feeling Sliding just be cannon fodder ready for yet another suicide attack against the Austrian positions off in the bud any attempt to laugh that turns into a bitter smile of understanding.
[the plot]
Twenty days without the exchange rate on the Ortigara
dismontà .
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pum
is summarized in the titles of head of the hard life of the soldier in time of war: the first floor of amphibians that sink into the mud, which is the ration of soup, along with bread and water, cigarettes, hand-made with loose tobacco, greeting card and send it home from the front, the button sewed on the uniform, the band rolled on calves and back of the march in the mud. Nothing heroic, nothing martial only life that tries to continue, despite everything.
The film opens with an overview that shows a long line made up of civilians waiting outside and inside the military district, ready to be enrolled. Inside the building we find the column Oreste Jacovacci (Alberto Sordi), intention to examine and cut with meticulous care and precision the nails of one hand. From the exit row, make bold with, John Busacca (Vittorio Gassman), who approaches him and asks him, having joked that in certain circumstances, it always ends with "in Milan and the Roman infantry company office" if he can do something for reform it, because, though it seems, he is weak constitution. Jacovacci agrees, upon payment of thirty pounds. But closer to the Marshal of the recruits who enlisted merely to ask if he can close the window next to the lanky, "indicating Busacca. Marshall agrees, pointing to the window itself, and deception is complete. Obviously Busacca leaves for boot camp, where he finds the time to catechize his companions, the anarchist Bakunin chanting and urging them not to submit passively to the orders of superiors. He, in fact, running with the pack, which should weigh sixty pounds, full of straw. Sergeant raparlo the threat of zero, if you commit nonsense, but Busacca, very proud and bully, convinces the others to be clever. Resulted in military recruits to the barracks door in the second line we find Busacca and his companions rapati zero. On the same train is also Jacovacci, forced against his will to leave for the front. When Busacca sees chases him from the roof of the train, but then throw it under a waiver: If he has to go to the front, that the other will follow. Able, if it hurts, will be reformed. Jacovacci screams that he is a volunteer came up to there, and that going to do great things for the country. The Busacca asks him what he did as a civilian: the barber, "replied the other ... While translated rush around the military and relatives of the military, in an atmosphere full of nervousness and feverish impatience for the departure imminent, with bustling crowds of parcels, cards and recommendations, in a train station enters the hospital. Suddenly, silence descends, broken only by the puffing of a steam engine, and all eyes converged on the white trucks with the red cross painted on it.
And tomorrow we go to the assault, soldier
not get yourself killed,
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Sistematisi to barracks, from the 7th battalion spent a few hours of quiet, until someone sighting a column of soldiers marching through the window and shouts, "the prisoners arrive prisoners. " Jacovacci, to himself, says, "kill, prisoners already semo strong ... but then ...", then leans out the window and yells: "a filthy, tie, there is good ..." until a fellow soldier stops him: " are ours, are those who were at the forefront .... " Confused by the fact of seeing them torn and dirty, our soldiers believed they were enemy prisoners. Their arrival brings with it a bit 'of the tragic reality of war. When the commander of the assault troops arrive to find volunteers for his battalion, Jacovacci, under the gaze of astonished Busacca, raises his arm and offers. The soldiers at the front, they have little leisure: One of these is the only prostitute in the country, Constantine (Silvana Mangano), who tired of the attention of soldiers dirty and rude rebels to resign, exercised with the consent of the army. Busacca, who had seen her on the balcony of his house and threw dirty water on the soldiers who crowded into the yard to chase them away, was struck by Constantine, and in the evening, while the others are in the room, goes to visit. In the morning, on his return, he discovers that his battalion's departure has been anticipated, and that the assault troops are leaving for Modena, where they will remain at least three months for training. "Maybe go back to war, who knows ..." Busacca Jacovacci rails against "beggar, coward, you rascal," and hastened to return to barracks. Constantine looking out of his home race comments: "run, run, you'll see ..."
Then when you go down
battalion does not have more money.
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While he is returning to barracks Busacca is stopped by an officer: he tries a nonexistent allowed to spend the night outside the barracks, Constantine discovers that pretending to love him clean the jacket, actually has stolen his wallet. He rushes from the then Commander of the Arditi, where he finds Jacovacci. Each of the last two would free place, but both end up running away when the Commander of the Arditi, in order to test the courage, laying a hand grenade, after I tore the flap on his desk. The bomb will prove, in fact, only an inkwell. The 7th moved to the forefront: Jacovacci Busacca and carrying a machine gun, under heavy enemy bombardment. During a break in a general orders the execution of an Austrian spy: a platoon will execute the order while the battalion resumed the march. Once in the trench, have been able to discover the horrors of war. In front of the trench, in fact, check the hand of a soldier killed.
In the valley there is a cemetery, cemetery
us soldiers.
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"If we win this war by whatever means we have a great army." This is the comment of the Commander of the 7th Battalion in front of the nth, incomprehensible, postponement of the attack on the Austrian trenches. In the night, in fact, his soldiers have opened up gaps in the fence of the enemy, losing a man-in-action. With the sunrise the advantage will disappear, and the Austrians will place machine guns in front of the gates and the sacrifice of his men will have been useless. Break the deadlock, at first light, order of attack: the other, even without having received orders on the subject, will follow. Jacovacci Busacca and have had time to volunteer for a mission that they believe without risk: re-establish the telephone connection with the command. Do not they know that in the attempt have already lost their lives three men. But once the attack begins. Not taking part were able to escape the slaughter in which their commander also died.
Cemetery us soldiers
maybe one day you happen to live.
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falls on the snow in the mountains. While waiting for the mess in their tents, lashed by rain, the soldiers read the first page of "Domenica del Corriere": the illustration and the text depicts them while celebrating Christmas, despite the harshness of life on the line. "The war is a long idle without a break," said one of them. Italians expect a counter-offensive of the Austrians, in the area manned by the 7th battalion to reinforce the defenses should be spread more barbed wire. Busacca and Jacovacci are chosen to return to the barracks to collect the necessary material. Busacca advantage of returning the country to look for Constantine. Found, and after a brief scuffle, she returns the wallet. Then confesses to having a child, and you want to start with the little one in a few days to get away from the front. John meets Orestes, who has since loaded the cart with barbed wire. The poles that the captain asked them there are, will only come the next morning. The two decide to return to the battalion, however, but while they are on the road again to the forefront of an intense bombardment of the surrounding mountains where they find their mates. They decide that the lack of posts is simply an excuse to stay where they are. The next morning they discover that the battalion during the night, was wiped out. Almost all are dead, and who is injured is not dead. Before the battalion commander an officer swears: "Where is God?" Just as it passes the chaplain. This turns around and replies: "It 's here too. If 33 years is 85 ... "
I left my mother, I left
to be a soldier.
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Due to excessive losses, the 7th battalion was sent to a rest in the rear. The arrival of the soldiers in the country is celebrated by people with a lot of band and crowd massed on either side of the road. As the people realize the conditions in which the soldiers, however, the applause and shouts of welcome will soften, to become silent tears on the faces of women. Even the music of the band, gradually loses strength until it turns off completely. The soldiers eventually marched between two rows of the crowd silent and sad. During a festival that should serve to raise the morale of the troops, which are recited patriotic sonnets unbearable, and Busacca Jacovacci decide to whip up a collection to help out the soldiers back from the front. In fact their purpose is to be able to put together the money to go party in that of Udine. At the station, however, meet the widow of one of their comrade. It was the soldier who always offered to replace the volunteers in missions at risk, in exchange for some money. The woman does not know that her husband died, and was waiting at the station with a packet of spare underwear. The two agree to deliver it, but when they hear that the widow was expected from her husband the money to advance the large family feel obliged to give the money collected through the collection. Will not go to Udine, and their enjoyment will be a dance at the station, along with other soldiers. When you take the loaf
the sniper started shooting.
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Soon after came a new order: the battalion to guard a strategic location, a hill where an inn. Among the preparations to try to resist the advance of the enemy, the commander prepares to deliver a message from a gun battery which should provide cover fire to her. Among all men who choose the less available suitable for combat: Busacca Jacovacci and will be the messengers. Once in place Where is the battery of cannons stood the two deliver the dispatch to the commander: the news is that Italians are preparing a bridge of boats on the Piave groped to take by surprise and drove back the Austrians. In exchange for the message, the two receive a bottle of wine. While they are back at the inn for a storm advised to spend the night in a stable. During the night the battery of cannon is moved to provide better support to the soldiers who are building the bridge of boats, so the location is left unguarded. A few hours later the Austrians take the place of the Italians.
Battalion of all the dead, we swear
save Italy.
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Jacovacci and Busacca, Siena realizing they were surrounded, groped decide to escape by pretending to Austrians as well steal a couple of coats, but are recognized and arrested. The law of war provides for the execution for spies, and the fact that they are disguised as Austrians makes them such. When asked by an Austrian officer, they try to explain that there are only a misunderstanding. Jacovacci, in the heat of the defense, also mentions the bridge of boats. The Austrian officer becomes immediately aware of the importance of the news, and threatened to shoot them if they do not immediately reveal the plans of the Italian army. The two falter a bit, 'then they are prepared to talk. While two Austrian officers spread out on the table a map of the area, one of two comments: "I thought you were more courageous. Especially the tall one, I thought you had more liver ... "and another, in return:" Liver? They know only the liver Venetian style, what we eat in a few days. " Busacca, hearing these words, attitude changes completely. "You can not say that. So you know what I said, I do not anything you dehydrated, shithead. " The Austrian sends him immediately in front of a firing squad. Jacovacci, alone, approached the window, opens it and sees Busacca as it falls under the blows of rifle. "But thirst that crazy? But s'ammazza so people? And now? Only he knew where the bridge of boats! I know nothing. " The Austrian official put takeaway too. While being dragged by soldiers in front of a firing squad continues to scream: "I'm afraid ... I do not want to die, I'm a coward." Then the shots, and nothing more.
The sacrifice of the two allows the Italian army to carry out a counter in a positive way. While the Italian soldiers to take back the territory that was taken just before the Austrians, the two officers of the 7th Battalion who had sent on a mission say: "I wish I knew where they ambush, this time! They managed to escape again, "just as they pass without notice, next to the corpses of the two.
[commentary on the film]
One of the negative reviews that are most frequently made against the film Monicelli is that he wanted to be a national tragedy by using the building, the rhythms and tones typical of the Italian comedy. Are usually highlighted aspects deliberately caricaturist, considered to be too superficial and, intending to give this way a negative assessment of the work. Whose chief merit is, conversely, just being able to be in an organic and unique, a vast panorama format so many great portraits, even if quickly dashed, covering all aspects and moods of the Italians before the tragedy of war. The variety of types and situations, in fact, is exceptional: there is no trace of supermen, heroes ready for anything, soldiers invincible. Each character represented is aware at all times, the enormous tragedy of war, to the point that many are the jokes that this is underlined. More than a comedy, if you will, can and must speak of cynical sarcasm, a dry humor that permeates the entire film. The finish, which might seem too patriottistico, is compensated by the attitude of the two protagonists, until the end that act as anti-heroes, in spite of themselves. Jacovacci that while it is being shot because he did not wish to reveal the plans of the Italian Army yelling "I am a coward!" Is the best example and most immediate, and redeems itself just as declaring his true nature. It 's a hero to be so unaware that this becomes even more real and believable. So heroic that he is forced to be brave to shout all his inability to be a true hero. The war, then, and the reporting of thousands of small and large abuse, deprivation, and inhuman conditions, the film remains largely in the background. Back violently to the fore in several scenes from the great impact dramatic, during which the silence is the only soundtrack. It helps to make this even more devastating impact on the beautiful photography by Giuseppe Rotunno, able to make the crowd scenes in an extraordinarily dramatic. An approach that demystify the war, then, and with her all the trappings that the military is scrambling to win him over. "The Great War" returns the event of war or soldiers who have fought, the soldiers who died during the assault on enemy positions, to those who lost their lives to deliver a telegram with a Christmas card of the command. There is no real political attack against the reasons for the war, there is no harsh criticism to the work of the Army: it would not be consistent with the storyline and the characters. There is, however, the representation of the man who, already burdened with its many daily problems, agrees with the spirit of sacrifice and dedication of a war on his shoulders, accepting it with fatalism and resignation, without the question why it 's have caused some discomfort but complaining that this gives him. Who wants to take offense at the picture, fearful that give the Italians the two protagonists can do it, for heaven's sake: I, however, I understand and agree with their lack of courage, the desire for survival and the continued and repeated attempts to escape and expulsion from the front lines.
The Great War (Ita / Fra 1959, b / w, 129 ') - Golden Lion at Venice
directed by Mario Monicelli;
with Alberto Sordi (awarded the Silver Ribbon), Vittorio Gassman, Romolo Valli, Silvana Mangano, Ferruccio Amendola,
subject Luciano Vincenzoni, Agenor Incrocci (Age), and Scarpelli, Mario Monicelli, a short story by Guy de Maupassant ("Two Friends");
music by Nino Rota, Mario Garbuglia scenery, costumes Danilo Donati, photography Giuseppe Rotunno.
