Mediterraneo (1991) [Import, All Regions, English Subtitles]

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

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.