A wonderful historic/cultural film taking place in Arasole, Sardinia and the Russian front in 1939.
In the first half of the film five young men are introduced to the viewer through their wonderful playful antics during a famous annual Sardinian festa. The festa includes food, games, and the famous mysterious procession of the Mamuthones and Issoahodores. The 12 Mamuthones are tragic masked characters parading in a slow coded walk guided by 6 handsome Issoahodores.
The second half of the film, we find our stars on the Russian front and all does not go well. During the most harrowing finale of the battle, the Sardinians find themselves without officers and losing. No one is there to call a retreat. The brave men take it upon themselves to survive, and they are presented with ultimate moral issues.
I viewed this film at an Italian Film Fest in California, 2000. Overwhelmed with emotion on the greatness of this film, culturally and historically, I can not wait for it to come to DVD or VHS.
In the first half of the film five young men are introduced to the viewer through their wonderful playful antics during a famous annual Sardinian festa. The festa includes food, games, and the famous mysterious procession of the Mamuthones and Issoahodores. The 12 Mamuthones are tragic masked characters parading in a slow coded walk guided by 6 handsome Issoahodores.
The second half of the film, we find our stars on the Russian front and all does not go well. During the most harrowing finale of the battle, the Sardinians find themselves without officers and losing. No one is there to call a retreat. The brave men take it upon themselves to survive, and they are presented with ultimate moral issues.
I viewed this film at an Italian Film Fest in California, 2000. Overwhelmed with emotion on the greatness of this film, culturally and historically, I can not wait for it to come to DVD or VHS.
