Customer Reviews

Mediterraneo

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Every movie, like life itself, has a beginning and an ending. Comparing the beginning and the ending tells a lot about a movie. The opening picture in Mediterraneo shows a group of people, with little and common, shuffled together by fate. The ending shows a group of friends, who have learnt to share their lives.

It is 1941, and a fierce battle is raging through the eastern part of the Mediterranean, where Italian troops are battling British forces for the control of Islands, such as it happened in similar ways between American troops and the Japanese in the Pacific theatre.

On this background, an Italian platoon is sent to the tiny island of Kastellorizo, the southernmost island of the Dodekanesos, huddled against the Turkish coastline. The cruiser, that brought them to the Island, is sunk the same day, and their radio equipment fails. The soldiers gradually make contact with the Islanders. As the war progresses the soldiers and their little island are forgotten by the war-faring parties.

Step-by-step they find new lives. Some become goat herders, fishermen, while others fall in love with the village prostitute. The commanding lieutenant discovers his talent for fresco painting, and restores the island's church, whilst his eleven members of the platoon serve as models for the followers of Jesus and other saints.

In this movie, the soldiers collectively forget about their identity, and become part of the islander community. However, as the war ends, the island's male abducted population returns to reclaim their wives.

Reluctantly, the Italians leave the island. Only one of them hides in a barrel, after having married the village's prostitute.

This movie is not only highly entertaining. It plays in a rarely portrayed theatre of the WWII.
It portrays the development of human society in the context of compassion and friendship.

I highly recommend this movie to spectators interested in psychology, the absurdity of life, and human development.

Franz L. Kessler www.authorsden.com/franzkessler

An eight man battalion is sent by the Italian army to secure a strategically unimportant Greek island. When we first meet them they are arguing about anything and everything. The first ten minutes of Mediterraneo seem like a photograhped play, complete with oddball character going head to head with each other in small, darkly lit sets. It is only when these characters meet the locals that the film blossoms into a sunny, lyrical and strangely uplifiting experience.

Most reviews have described it as a comedy, since Mediterraneo offers us a soldier who goes to war with a donkey called Silvana, an artistic battalion leader who would rather paint a cathedral then display any kind of leadership and a loud sargent trying to hypnotise his fellow soldiers in a soccer game, I would agree that it is a very funny film. But its more then that. With the help of cinematographer Italo Petriccione, director Salvatores's film is like a whimisical dream, a rose tinted memory. He seems aware that the virginal romantic soldier and the prostitute with a heart of gold are cliches, but in context of this picturesque little poem their romance made me inexplicably and ridiculously happy.

There is something enormously endearing about the Italian language. Maybe its the way the words stretch out, "Medeeteryaano", that makes it seem so passionate. My Italian is about as good as Roberto Benigni's English, but listening to the language spoken by its native speakers is always a pleasure. It just seems less cynical.

The film made me believe that these men could forget themselves for three years in the spiritual and sensual paradise they were sent to conquer. Underscored with some incredibly beautiful bazouki music, Mediterraneo possesses a giddy indescribable charm.

Just one quick thought: please release this title on DVD. Cinema Paradiso has been released, Il Postino has been released, now this movie should be released. It easily holds its own when compared to these 2 movies. Simply delightful. The acting, the plot, the scenery, easily give this movie a five-star rating. Makes you want to visit the Greek island where the movie was shot and live the experience of "la dolce vità" portrayed in this movie. This film shows you how, even in the thick of war, enemies are more alike then different. We are all linked by the same human spirit.
I await impatiently for the DVD version.

As other reviewers, I have looked for the video version of this film to find that it isw not available. What a dissapointment! I think this is a lovely film, with a lot of humour and light, which nevertheless it's not light in its content, as it shows how stupid war is (these italian soldiers lost in an idilic greek war are informed one day by someone arriving from the outside that their former enemy is now their ally!) Lovely film, definitively a must, and among my ten favourite films.

Well, it's difficult to explain why is this movie so moving... Essentially, nothing really happens most of the time (like in real life). The background is war but you actually dont see any. There's a love story, sort of, but no real love scene, or emotional romance... it's also a comedy, but there aren't any really great memoreable jokes that knock you off. There is some "philosophy", escapism, let's-enjoy-life-while-it's last or whatever, but that's not that revealing either... So why is it so good? Am not sure, although I've seen it many-many times, over and over, can memorize whole scenes and dialogs, completely obssesed with it. Maybe, it creates a certain atmosphere, a silly happy smile that wan't move from yr face for the duration and some time after... you fall in love
with some of the charachters, the italian language, the greek landscape, you watch it and want to ride (or better walk next to)a donkey, sit on a rock and eat some feta, hide in an olive barrell... every small detail of a scene is beautifully shot and sculpted, tasteful, subtle yet simple, every word in its place, it all fits together so well... everytime I see it I discover new details, change my opinion and preferences about the charachters. Now I am quite convinced "lo Russo" is the main personality, although at some pt I thought it was Farina, or perhaps there is no "main" one, like in real life etc.

I tried to show this movie to some teenagers but they got super bored, which was sad, so I wan't do it again, just watch it myself, over and over again...

Definitely a GREAT movie, Mediterraneo, brings to the screen the story of a small Italian military force consisting of eight men that invades Greece during WWII and takes over one of the islands. Subsequently, the Italians are forced to interact with the local Greek populace with everything that that entails. When the Germans arrive, things get a bit more complicated...
Mediterraneo, is a film that touches on human relations, and such concepts as hope, honor and inner strength.
Needless to say, all the actors have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least; without exceptions, they give it their 100% and it really shows (the chemistry is AMAZING)! Very well written and very well presented, the movie is without a doubt guaranteed to provide more than just a few laughs, not to mention a few tears. The film is simple enough, but does a great job of describing people's every day lives and the problems they face. It just goes to show that simplicity is often far better than complexity, when trying to present issues of a human nature.
The setting, the plot, the dialogues, the humor (!!!), and the music are all WONDERFUL!
In short, Mediterraneo is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection!
Strongly recommended along with Malena for the lovers of such films.

I loved this movie when it came out; I realize it was a slight choice to win the '91 Oscar for best foreign film, but I think the Academy voters fell in love (as I did) with the notion of 'getting away from it all'.

Years later when films like "Life is Beautiful" started figuring prominently in overall public opinion, "Mediterraneo" deserved all the props it got, and then some. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the splendid cinematography, which will compel you to buy a Greek island just as well as any Fodor's Travel video. I screened this movie in a campus theatre for my friends, and they thought it was magnificent.

An idyllic little romantic comedy that is so lighthearted, you'll think it's heaven-sent. My copy is a region 3 version from Korea, and it's reasonably priced.

I was fortunate enough to see this movie in the theatre, and it was amazing how the audience could lose itself in this dreamily relaxing movie in much the same way as a detachment of Italian soldiers could lose itself on a remote Greek island for the duration of a savage, bloody war. When the lights came up, we found ourselves as reluctant to leave the cinematic experience as the soldiers were to return to Italy.

Tima & time again, I find myself returning to this wonderful little gem of a movie, as it provides a certain release for the stress of everyday life. There are very few movies that I have seen that can so successfully seduce the viewer.

This is one of the best foreign films I have ever seen and while I was looking for Il Postino on DVD, I thought of this one too. I am very disappointed to see that it is not available on either VHS or DVD. I will be waiting for it to arrive impatiently...

This wonderful Italian film shot during the 1990's, tells the story of a group of misfit Italian soldiers from various parts of Italy sent to occupy a Greek Island during World War II of zero strategic importance.

Through a series of mishaps, they lose a soldier's beloved pet donkey, and their essential two-way radio, effectively cutting them off and leaving them forgotten during the war.

Left stranded on the seemingly deserted isle, they discover they are not alone once the inhabitants realize the Italian soldiers are harmless, unlike the brutal German occupiers who preceded them.

As the natives emerge from hiding, a gradual interface between the Italians and the Greek inhabitants develops.

Bittersweet, hysterical, and almost poetic, this film is sure to delight you with its touch of whimsey, well-defined characters who all develop throughout the film, and its nostalgic look at a time long lost.

Difficult to find on DVD, don't pass this film up.