Dramatic and raw movie that narrates the sad events following the signing of the Italian armistice in 1943 and the consequent fall of fascism, along with the advance of Tito's partisans in Istria and Dalmatia. The film portrays these tragic events of the communist Yugoslav partisans' advance and their atrocities with great fidelity.
Some have criticized the film for not explaining the origins of the intense Yugoslav hatred toward Italians in general and fascists in particular. It's true that in the film, the fascist military personnel are portrayed as normal people, performing their regular political and military duties, rather than reflecting the harsh dictatorship of the regime in these regions, as we know it was. However, the film chronologically begins with the armistice's signing and narrates the events related to the partisan terrorism of the Yugoslav partisans. It doesn't focus on the previous behavior of the fascists and Italians in these areas.
I don't believe the film aims to hide fascist cruelty. In fact, it's quite evident that the political and social hatred of the Yugoslav partisans has origins as a response to the suffering they endured previously. This is not a documentary explaining how this hatred originated, and it's not a history book that must didactically and comprehensively detail all the reasons of the different parties involved.
The film narrates the experiences of a specific individual and their family, and I must say that the cinematic portrayal of these experiences has been done masterfully. All the film's elements have been well utilized to construct a visually powerful narrative of those dramatic moments. Everything in the film is very credible and well-constructed: the characters, the settings, the dialogues.
The cinematography is excellent, although I'm not particularly fond of the use of artificial outdoor lighting in dark interior shots. At times, it gives the feeling of a TV production, as this type of lighting is common in such productions. Nonetheless, this is a minor issue, and the result is more than satisfactory.
The music is discreet and functional, though it may lack a bit to be considered memorable.
The actors are all very credible, and in some cases, they stand out for their performances.
In conclusion, it's an excellent movie, although it falls short of being a masterpiece. But one must always remember that the budget is often the determining factor.
