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The Damned: The winter of 1862, a volunteer unit of Union soldiers has been sent to defend mountain territory, we're not told where it is, we don't even find out the names of the soldiers. After the regular troops head off, they are under the command of a John Brown style patriarch with a flowing beard, his teen sons have also enlisted. The troops are a mixed lot, some middle aged, even old, most in their thirties. All lacking in military experience, They share knowledge and skills are transferred. We witness mobile sentries, potshots at distant riders. A buffalo is shot and butchered, The bleak landscape, hills, mountain meadows, the drifting snow, the cold rations running low all add to a developing sense of existential despair. A battle takes place, we don't see the enemy, we do see the unit's casualties. War is hell, especially when you don't know why you're there anymore. Very much a Ken Loach style film with no set dialogue from day to day and many ordinary people acting, amateur like the soldiers. This improvisation leads to philosophical, religious and political discussions around campfires. Some of which outstay their welcome. But it's a minor distraction from this raw portrayal of men at war. Written and directed by Roberto Minervini, 8/10.

This is so incredibly dull. Not only is there no story, but no one has proper conversations.

It's truly one of the worst films I've seen and I've seen over 15k movies.

Expect minimal speaking, and when they do it's like "oh look a bird" or "look at the horizon". No real speaking. Absolutely no conversation.

Story is non-existent.

It's like watching people do nothing and day almost nothing for over an hour and a half.

There isn't one positive thing I can say. Not one!

Watch this if you can't sleep and want the dullest movie ever to send you to sleep.

Literally any other movie is better than this.

"The new film of Roberto Minervini" Who???

Not that anyone has ever heard of him or watched his other boring movies.

Although the civil war was fought between North and South, for some very stupid reasons some northern soldiers are being sent to the West to "unchart unknown territories" because apparently the North has soldiers to spare to do something absolutely unnecessary for the war effort.

During the whole boring movies these soldiers just wander around, make camp and talk a lot of boring nonsense.

Like: "Have you ever shot anyone?" "Yes, a rabbit."

Really deep and philosophical. Duh.

Nothing else happens.

These "soldiers" never behave like real soldiers have during the civil war and at no point talk like them.

For some perspective I recommend the great Ken Burns documentary.

Or just watch any Spaghetti Western from the 70s.

Even "Django Vs Space-Zombies" is more realistic (and also way more entertaining) then this garbage.

Roberto Minervini is known for his dramatized yet documentary approach of American rural life. Filled with beautiful camerawork and a meditation study amongst the Civil War era and it's characters, Minervini provides a interesting new approach on discussing the aimless and dreadful journey of soldiers wondering and observing their environment and the battles of war.

Strong sound designs, natural performances, and camerawork helps to establish the tone, atmosphere and environment. Including good direction used throughout and some of the battle sequences being well-directed and presented. Although some of the dialogue ends up feeling off-putting that destroys the realism aspects at times. As a whole, it's beautiful and mediative approach on the Civil War is something I found interesting.

I know this one isn't going to be on many people's liking but I like this a lot. Guess I am a bit pretentious lol.

Nice beards. Nice scenes of Civil Way soldiers walking in snow, and loading period correct weapons... Don't worry about subs.. there isn't more than 10 minutes of dialogue throughout the whole 80 minutes of videos. You will not need subs.. nothing significant is ever said. Watch to video.. characters only say things like "this how you fire this rifle, or pistol".

If this were a porn flick, you would only see a male and female actor gazing into each other's eyes for 75 minutes, and then it would exciting if one actor needed to blow their nose. Only positive thing in this movie is it takes place in some mountains somewhere, men have nice beards and somewhat period correct weapons.