The Fallen

"The Fallen" at first seems like an old-fashioned World War II movie, opening with almost "Hogan's Heroes"-like humor with "Milo Minderbinder" of "Catch-22" like wheeling-dealing, but gradually develops into a moving and complex portrait of soldiers.

Most English-language films we have seen about GI's interacting with locals have been in French forests, but this is set in the more complex social, political and military environment of northern Italy at the close of the war, dealt with superficially in "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" and almost contemporaneously in Roberto Rossellini's "Paisà", which was also a series of vignettes.

The very large ensemble that gets hard to differentiate individually includes Americans closing in on the Germans who are equally allies and occupiers to Italians buffeted by deposed fascists, Communist partisans, displaced peasants and apolitical criminals, an unusually diverse array of characters who all claim to be nationalists.

Like a Bill Maudlin cartoon, this is war from the GI's eye view; we don't see generals or hear discussions of strategy or tactics, just orders to follow. The American soldiers, as drawn by the script of Nick Day and Caio Ribeiro, are the most stereotyped from old movies, the hulking hillbilly, the Italian guy from Brooklyn who is delegated to do translations and community relations as the locals eagerly ask if he knows their cousins, the alcoholic officer in charge, etc. In the second half of the film, the Americans' portrayal sharpens up as the supply guys in the quartermaster corps are thrust into the front lines for the first time and there's less dialog and more taut action.

The German soldiers are the least stereotyped, despite many close-ups on their black crosses and Heil Hitler salutes. They are shown as professional, competent soldiers doing their job far from home in a crumbling situation, with limited supplies and manpower. Though sounding more like World War I trench movies (and characters on all sides recall relatives who were inspiring veterans), their discussions of the futility of continuing to fight are plausible and add complications to their actions.

The Italians are a mix of stereotypes and complexities. The sex-starved peasant women are just plain silly, and the Army, regardless of accurate issues of unpreparedness, looks like buffoons. The Mafiosi-like thug and his henchmen are the usual, but their interactions with the armies are interesting, even if it is never explained how they've avoided the war up to now. The refugees are both as haunted and resilient as "Mother Courage".

While far less bloody than "Saving Private Ryan", it is unpredictable what will happen to characters we get to care about and is unsparing in showing the personal devastation of war. Debut feature director Ari Taub does the fight scenes very up close and personal, and very effectively portrays a real sense of actual combat, particularly for a low-budget film.

The developing serious tone is undone many times by the melodramatic score which overemphasizes comedic elements of the absurdity of war. Period songs by interesting voices are used effectively throughout.

With each nationality speaking in their native tongues, the subtitles are black-lined and always legible. The subtitles are also thoughtfully provided even when characters are speaking English but with thick accents. Language communication issues are a key part of this story.

I really enjoyed this film. It was sad and funny and tragic and many other things as well. It reminded me of the hallelujah trail (Burt Lancaster)with loads of people wandering around looking for each other. Eventually they find each other whether they want to or not and a number of them end up dead (this being unlike the Hallelulah Trail). I liked the way that lots of the characters wanted out but kept on going despite their fears.I imagine this is true of most combatants. Some people are heroes (see Audie Murphies Films)but most people are just people. There were a number of stereotypes but then this is also true of life. Wherever you go you meet people who fit these stereotypes. It was a very human film.

In the autumn of 1944, in Northern Italy, the German soldiers resist to the advancement of American forces in an Italy divided in fascist soldiers, communist partisans supported by the civilians and thugs. An American platoon leaded by Sergeant Malone (John McVay) is assigned to deliver supplies to the front. Meanwhile, the German Lieutenant Gunther (Thomas Pohn) tries to keep the morale and discipline of his needy soldiers, and faces many other problems when the Italian troop leaded by the aristocratic Lieutenant Gianini (Fabio Sartor) joins his doomed troop. The thugs leaded by Rossini (Carmine Raspaolo) act like vultures, plundering the remains after the battles.

"The Fallen" is a different war movie that gives the big picture of the chaotic situation of Italy during the last days of the World War II, showing a country divided in civil war, with an unusual code of ethics between the Italian soldiers and the partisans. It is nice to have a humanistic view of the war through the three sides – Italians, Germans and Americans- at the same time. The lack of discipline of the Italian soldiers breaks the tension and gives humor to this dramatic story. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Guerra Sangrenta" ("Bloody War")

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.

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.