“They fought by the rule book... and died by the thousands!”
Time after time, soldiers of the Italian Army are forced to leave their mountain trenches in attempts to storm an enemy fortress, always with the same disastrous results. As casualties mount, indignation spreads among the rank and file. Disturbed by his superiors' decisions, Lieutenant Sassu is led to question the purpose of war and reconsider where his real duties lie.
Francesco Rosi
Luciano Perugia
Marina Cicogna
Francesco Rosi
Francesco Rosi
Tonino Guerra
Raffaele La Capria
Pasqualino De Santis
Piero Piccioni
Mark Frechette
Lt. Sassu
Alain Cuny
Gen. Leone
Gian Maria Volonté
Lt. Ottolenghi
Giampiero Albertini
Capt. Abbati
Pier Paolo Capponi
Lt. Santini
Franco Graziosi
Maj. Malchiodi
Mario Feliciani
Colonel Doctor
Alberto Mastino
Soldier Marrasi
Brunetto Del Vita
Col. Stringari
Nino Vingelli
Wounded Soldier from Naples
Zdravko Smojver
Sergeant
Antonio Pavan
Lt. Pavan
... and 12 more
Nutshell
A truly compelling anti-war film from Italy, which echoes Kubrick's earlier masterpiece Paths of Glory. Excellent performances and camera work communicate the message well: war is the most insane kind of hell indeed...
Jadran Film
Prima Cinematografica