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44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
the long journey home, February 4, 2001
If posible, I would award ten stars to the film version of Primo Levi's "La Tregua". This is a superb movie about what happened to the prisoners of Auschwitz after their liberation by the Red Army. The role of Primo, an Italian Jew, is played brilliantly by John Turturro. Along with survivors of various nationalities, the band of liberated Italians is taken to a transition camp run by Soviet medical personnel. Here the survivors recover from their ordeal, rebuilding their strength for the long journey home. A chemist by profession, Primo joins the Soviet medical staff until the train finally arrives to transport everyone home. Unfortunately, the railroad track has been everywhere destroyed by war, necessitating a prolonged and circuituous route through Minsk. During the trip, the Holocaust survivors are dependent on the limited supplies of the Red Army and the generosity of impoverished Soviet citizens. The Italian language is "dubbed" in accented English for this American film, and a variety of foreign languages -- Russian, Polish, Ukranian, German, French -- are spoken without subtitles. This very realistically conveys the confusion and frustration experienced by the survivors. The audience, like Primo, must rely on translators or simply decipher some dialogue from context or pantomime. By utilizing panoramic filming of scenery, changing gradually from dreary winter to spring to early summer, the movie gives a strong sense of the interminable duration of the journey home. Recurrent throughout the film are eerie black-and-white flashbacks to the horror of Auschwitz. Some of these are wrenching. Overall,though, the theme is of hope, and of camaraderie and kindness helping to heal the wounds of the Holocaust. Watching "Truce" is an emotional experience, depicting true events that must never be forgotten.
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29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
All-encompassing, amazing drama, June 30, 1999
I rarely write reviews. This film compels in more ways than words can express. It has it all: soul, humor, a teaching conscience, which is rare in film today. It is well-made and well-directed, and the acting is superb and convincing. I saw it several times in the theater and anticipate owning my own copy. This is the kind of film that should be required viewing in today's college history classes when World War II is covered--learning "what happened next" is as important as the events themselves, so that we can see the results of our actions, or our inactions.
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29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE best film I've seen in years ., March 16, 2003
THE best film I've seen in years . Primo ( John Turturro in his best role )is a survivor of Auschwitz , survivor of Holocaust . He is Italian Jew saved by Russians at the end of WWII . All he wants is so simple - just to go home . But railroads are destroyed and he has to make a detour true Minsk ( Minsk is a capital of Belorussia . Minsk is a hometown of my mother . Minsk is the city where only 4 buildings was still standing after WWII . Minsk is the city which my mother had to leave when she was 2 years old and hide under the horse cart during the air strikes ... she still can't talk about it .)At the same time he need to learn how to live usual life , how to look without scare , without pain . How to live at all . What makes this film 10 stars out of 5 ... little details , the feeling , the scare in everyone's eyes . I know this feeling . I know this scare . I don't want to remember it , but this film brought it back . And especially now I think everyone have to learn it ... before it is too late . This film is very slow and very deep . Acting on highest level - I even forgot that this is actors "acting". What shocked me most - the details , just little things which are so important , This film have to be watched by everyone and taken deep into our hearts . This kind of story might and have to change our world for better . "russianwriter"
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