The Fallen

As with most independent features, shot with an ultra low budget, I entered the screening of Letters from the Dead / Fallen with lower expectations than I would have of a Hollywood war movie. However I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the film as it was unlike most conventional war movies, which tend to tell the historical aspect of the war. What this film achieves is to bring the war down to a personal level for the audience. This is done through sensational acting from the whole cast and excellent directing from Ari Taub, who chose to tell the story in both German and Italian, shying away from the commercial idea of using only English (so that American's don't have to read the subtitles). I left the cinema with a better understanding of how the war affected the individual soldier because Ari Taub has created a very refreshing and truthful film that I would recommend anybody to go and see.

Catharina Widell 17st September 2004

I should admit right away that I don't like war movies. So when I was invited to see this film I went, because I knew that the person who invited me has good taste and wouldn't sponsor a film that wasn't good. I was pleasantly surprised when this film totally took hold of me. The theater was crowded, and I was very hungry with no popcorn. So when I found myself totally engrossed in this black and white film that deals with the gritty life of soldiers during World War II I was amazed. I got so involved in the lives of the men in this film that I forgot all about my hunger, and like a good novel, the film sped along to its end.

This film does a really good job of examining the lives of three different groups of soldiers, giving the audience a look at divergent points of view during wartime. Added to this is the fact that technically the film is very well done. I would say this is a war movie for people who don't usually enjoy them. All in all a very well done film for a first time director. I hope to see this placed in many more theaters so more people can see it.

Can you believe a WWII movie was made for so little money?? I can't. I'm so used to the traditional trite Hollywood epics that are all flash and no flavor. This was an unexpected, (though not entirely palatable), treat. Some of the acting was stilted and the effects a bit too cheaply raw, but the heart was there and it shines though the fog.

It takes real guts to portray all sides of such a horrible affair with dignity and respect.

Even Spielberg kept at an arms length on this issue.

Kudos to the brave soul who made this. I'll keep an eye out for upcoming projects for sure...

I thought that making a movie showing three points of view, was a brave choice, by the director, considering the history which took place during the war. Showing brave men fight for a losing cause, made the message of war and its purpose senseless. I didn't hate the Nazi soldiers, I felt sorry for them, which is quite a feat. Kudos all around to a well directed, acted and written story. I would recommend it to anyone with an open mind. I am not aware of what the budget of this film was but it had to be expensive considering all of the equipment, trucks and ammo that had to be used in this shoot. Though it is an independent film, it comes across like a studio project. I was also aware that there were no famous names in the project which helped me stay focused on the film without having to overcome the familiar mannerisms which a celebrity brings to a role.

Ari Taub takes on an immense project of independently shooting a war film set during WWII. Despite the numerous industry warnings against doing period films, Ari pulls it off with an engaging film, good characters, and an impressive production design. The production design for this film is stellar. The Italian actors are fantastic creating very engaging and likable characters. I should note here that this film is in three languages (Italian, German and English) and I applaud Ari maintaining this aspect to his story instead of making everyone speak English. The story is good, faithful to the large ensemble genre of post-WWII war film dramas. If anything, this film proves that Ari Taub is a capable, resourceful and ambitious director with a bright future and ability to deliver above expectation and means. "The Fallen" is worth a view and praise for everything accomplished by the cast, crew, and producers making this independent film.