It is such a pity that a true pioneer of film such as Augusto Genina should be virtually forgotten today. He excelled in so many genres from the sophistication of 'Prix de beauté' to the neo-realism of 'Cielo sulla palude'.
Here he is in 'Italian fascist mode' but still brings his qualities to bear.
The occupation of Benghazi in the Desert War by the British is viewed from the point of view of individual suffering, mainly through the eyes of four women, each of whom is perfectly cast.
Mária Tasnádi as Carla fails to find the courage to tell her wounded husband that their young son is dead whilst the Giuliana of Vivi Gioi cannot come to terms with the knowledge that the man who has proposed to her might be a collaborator. Laura Redi is Maria, a prostitute who hides a soldier and Amelia Bissi is an elderly mother who miraculously finds her son but whose husband is murdered by a bunch of loutish Australians who behave, ironically, like Black or Brownshirts!
The English soldiery are treated pretty lightly in this and the officers portrayed as teddibly civilised. One is intrigued as to where the makers of this found the upper crust voices for 'dubbing' purposes!
Amadeo Nazzari brings his charisma to bear in a pretty thankless role but the acting honours go to Fosco Giachetti, certainly no stranger to Genina's propoganda fare, whose performance as the maimed Capitano Berti combines both strength and sensitivity.
Genina has the services of Aldo Tonti behind the camera and Antonio Veretti again contributes a splendid score. No expense has been spared on the hordes of extras and a reconstruction of Benghazi at Cinecitta studios.
This film is one of great humanity and shows not just the physical damage of war in terms of lost limbs and sightless eyes but the devastating psychological toll. The best war films are, by definition, anti-war and this piece, despite its ostensibly propogandist nature, is no exception.
