Mediterraneo [1992]

Customer Reviews:

Wishful thinking travelogue.......2007-12-05

Some films are so slight a gentle breeze would blow them away, but Mediterraneo doesn't even need the breeze. Pure wishful thinking travelogue, this far from believable piece of whimsy sees a forgotten group of Italian soldiers on a remote Aegean island taken to the hearts of the beautifully photographed locals in the beautifully photographed town, who love the loveable beautifully photographed Italians so much that when a Turk steals their rifles, the happily lend them their own. Even ignoring the sheer dishonesty of the film and its `one face, one race' credo (try asking Greeks who lived under Italian occupation how much they `loved' their invaders - it's like asking Jews what they loved about Hitler), there's just nothing there but nice scenery nicely photographed. Had there been some hint or reality or the horrors of war in the film for the characters to escape from, it might just have worked, but it's relentlessly bland it makes a timeshare presentation look convincing. 1991 must have been a particularly bad year for World Cinema for this to pick up the Best Foreign Film Oscar.

Forget Captain Correlli, this is Italy in WW2.......2007-08-26

About 1000% better than Captain Correli. Proper story about young italians sent to occupy a Greek island during WW2. Wonderful scenery and personal insights into the lives of the soliders and others on the island. Gentle, but yet sad. Highly recommended, the definative film about the Italian occupation of Greece. More music, food and song for the world!

Superb.......2007-07-01

A war film with a difference, a stunning island, clear blue skies, a cast all on great form, an excellent story and script with the undercurrent of war throughout. One of the best films ever made, a classic, buy it or hire it. Enjoy

Average customer rating:

A beautiful and clever comedy
little time of yumminess
mediterraneo
One of the greatest feel good movies of all time
Running away from the world

Mediterraneo [1992]
Starring: Diego Abatantuono , Claudio Bigagli , Giuseppe Cederna , Claudio Bisio , and Gigio Alberti
Director: Gabriele Salvatores
Manufacturer: Cinema Club
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

All World Cinema | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video

All Drama | Drama | Categories | DVD | Video

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000064237
Release Date: 2004-06-14

Amazon.co.uk Review

Mediterraneo, the 1991 comedy by Gabriele Salvatores, was knocked for not being deep enough but it is what it is; and it is actually an easygoing, sunny movie about eight Italian soldiers who manage to strand themselves on a tiny Greek island paradise during World War II. The sort of mutts who would shoot a donkey for not knowing the proper password, these clumsy warriors become a comic variation on the Lotus Eaters of myth, their fighting spirit evaporated in the midst of so much beauty and sexual availability among the local women. There are also sundry opportunities for the men to find another purpose for their lives (one particularly artistic fellow works on the restoration of a church, for example). Amid the sometimes coarse jokes and gratuitous nudity, there are subtle themes about the contrast between what men are truly like in their natural state versus what they are like as killers. (The Thin Red Line this isn't but Salvatores does, in his own way, touch on some of the same themes.) Watch this one on a cold winter's day and vicariously enjoy the tans as well as the antiwar sentiment. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A beautiful and clever comedy.......2006-09-03

A beautiful, clever comedy which plays on the nature of both Greeks and Italians in a rather unbelievable story as far as the total isolation of a platoon of Italian soldiers on a Greek island for the entire duration of the world war II.
But the beauty of the comedy is based on this very isolation and the way these soldiers became part of the community on the island, which was deprived of the men who were taken prisoners by the Germans or were away fighting the war.
The humor is intensive, logical and tangible and the conversations brilliant especially in the original languages.
The English translation is good but can never represent the tone and the special expressions of the original language.
For those who know the character of both Greeks and Italians this film will be considered wonderful and worth seeing it more than once.
The comedy is not an effort to make the evils of the war appearing unimportant but an appreciation that soldiers on both sides of a conflict have a lot in common rather than differences.
For those who have memories of the sad years of the war, this film might simply strengthen the view that both occupying forces in Greece, that of the Germans and that of the Italians were objected and rejected in every possible way but at the same time recognizing that among the two evils, the Italians were considered more reasonable and closer to the Greek mentality and way of life.
The photography is excelled.
The direction of Gabrielle Salvatores at its best
No wonder that this firm was awarded the Academy Award for the Best Foreign Language film

little time of yumminess.......2005-09-15

A very lovely film.... The Italians come to town ....during the 2nd world war....to take over a greek island...their stay will be approx 3months....During an extended time the Itailian powers change sides...meanwhile.... back on the island the soliders fall in love.....with everything..

mediterraneo.......2003-10-11

simply the most heartwarming,funny,romantic and touching film I have ever seen. I could watch this film every week and my mission is to go to Megisti- the greek Island where it was filmed and take the weekly scheduled flight from Rhodes to land on the sameairstrip on the beach.The musical score takes you to hot days and nights as if you were there yourself.
What a shame the film is out of print as my video has been damaged- anyone out there got a spare copy?

One of the greatest feel good movies of all time.......2003-07-31

Amazing, in its simplicity. This gentle comedy shares the joys and changes in the relationship between a bunch of stranded Italian soldiers on an idilic Greek island. Without the pressures of society they bond, fight, express and develop their personalities, loves and abitions. This film is just leaves you feeling good and positive. This is not a shallow comedy but has a gentle cynicism on war and national prejudice.

Running away from the world.......2002-07-17

If you dream of running away from the world and finding a new dimension in an unspoiled Greek island, lost in the middle of nowhere, then this is the film for you. I must have seen "Mediterraneo" (either at the cinema or on VHS) 20 times since 1992, I always enjoyed it and I bought the DVD, as soon as it became available. This film was such a hit when it was released in Italy, that the tiny and unknown Greek island, where it was originally shot (Kastellorizo, also known as Megisti, no hotels), was stormed by young Italians in search of solitude, quiet and the "Mediterraneo" experience. This film is great, great fun, Italian-style, mixed with a few words of wisdom on how we should all enjoy our life. This is a "must" for those of you who, not being Italian, are not familiar with film-director Gabriele Salvatores and some of the most talented young Italian actors in recent years (such as Diego Abatantuono, Claudio Bisio, Giuseppe Cederna etc.)

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