Excellent movie this is! I didn't even knew they could do this kinds of films back then. I especially liked the scene when a soldier comes out of the forest and asks: Who was it? Who was it that did threw? What am I going to do with my shirt? It was a lot of emotions in that scene. I think it has a lot of common with other great war movies such as platoon, apocalypse now and Lilla jönssonligan 2. Epic storytelling all the way. I will definitely see more Italian war movies after seeing this one, because if other old Italian war movies are as good as this one than I will surely not be disappointed. I highly recommend Flashback because the freedom of speech is for real and it is a really good movie!
12 Reviews
Impressive war drama.
HumanoidOfFlesh5 January 2015
Once famous Norwegian spaghetti western star Fred Robsahm plays in "Flashback" a young German sniper named Heinz who hides on a tree overlooking his own regiment.He falls asleep and next day when he wakes up his regiment is gone.Heinz has some flashbacks about his German girlfriend.Finally he decides to visit an abandoned Italian village close to the forest where he stays.Very unusual war drama with a bit of nudity and some unsettling imagery.Fred Robsahm is excellent as Heinz and the score by Bruno Nicolai is fantastic.I enjoyed beautifully sad ending of "Flashback" too.Currently forgotten Fred Robsahm offered the lead role in "Flashback" which came to Cannes in 1969.He sat through the pressure in the audience and waited for everyone to leave but the audience stayed and clapped.9 flashbacks out of 10.
A metacognitive belic plor
figueroafernando5 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Metacognitive journey to the war premises (what did Helmut, the most cheerful of the group, feel? Will my companions come back? Forest with more souls around him than the trees, at least for the moment. It could be said that "il primo tempo" are the immediate reminiscences of the corporal who has lost his detachment or regiment and the pre-enlistment youth with his girl. For starters, hanging from the top of the tree and surveying his options mentally, but also physically, with the sight of his rifle from a distance. The growing desperation, however, makes him -il secondo tempo- venture to the next town and only to accumulate more questions and fears, instead of serving as a shelter. It will take a few minutes, perhaps, if you are slow like me, to understand that in the closedness or self-blocking of the young soldier there was no room for remorse or suspicion of some unscrupulous amoral action for the war,...until between the walls his nothing glorious happened witness or actor of a rape for example, while staggering drunk on the stone pavement and lonely shacks. And he would have continued to crouch in the trees of the mountainous town until the villagers slowly returned and while he was hiding he received the award for his dedication to seeking glory in war, receiving a bullet while resting on the grass.
This movie had it all!
stiliga22 January 2010
Heinz Prulier (Fred Robsham) is the German soldier stationed as a sniper in a tree overlooking his own army. When he falls asleep, his troops are gone and he is left alone to defend the incoming enemy invasion. Flashbacks recall his wartime experiences and his transition from a human being into a sadistic murderer and rapist. He encounters a prostitute and a giggling girl in this violent feature that reveals the deterioration of human values in the face of the grim realities of war.
This movie had it all; Great scenes,great acting and a beautiful storyline. No wonder that they were nominated at the Cannes Film Festival.
You are really missing out on something if you decide that you don't want to see this movie.
See It Now, it's freaking brilliant
This movie had it all; Great scenes,great acting and a beautiful storyline. No wonder that they were nominated at the Cannes Film Festival.
You are really missing out on something if you decide that you don't want to see this movie.
See It Now, it's freaking brilliant
True masterpiece
Xstar-11 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the best movies of all time. Flashback takes us on a journey we shall never forget - an epic war drama where Fred Robsahm, king of actors, stuns us with his incredible depth and charisma. In the end, we are left fully satisfied yet wanting more. When all is over, the only question remains that enigmatic line so beautifully delivered by Gianni Cavina: "Did he receive it in the 2nd?".
Since this movie became available on certain cinema-loving websites in early 2010, it has been rediscovered and finally appreciated as what it truly is and always has been - the best movie of all time. Avatar, Godfather and Shawshank Redemption are good movies, but director Raffaele Andreassi showed us what a truly great movie looks like. This is indeed a work of art.
Since this movie became available on certain cinema-loving websites in early 2010, it has been rediscovered and finally appreciated as what it truly is and always has been - the best movie of all time. Avatar, Godfather and Shawshank Redemption are good movies, but director Raffaele Andreassi showed us what a truly great movie looks like. This is indeed a work of art.
Masterpiece from an underrated director
danielamhult26 April 2010
It is a shame that people need to die to get the attention they deserve. Raffaele Andreassi was a very good director. I have seen some of his documentaries and they are all very good but this movie is really something special, a true masterpiece! The plot is very unique. I have seen over 1000 movies but never something like this. It is a really different and brilliant World War 2 film. The originality makes this movie along with a storyline which isn't easy to figure out how it will end. Fred Robsham does a great job as Heinz, the German soldier and main character. The other actors do a very good job as well. This is a movie you should watch people. Rest in peace Raffaele!
a 1960s classic!
abbbe-9127 January 2010
First of all i would like to point out that this is no ordinary film, Even though it merely is a composition of a standard 60s movie it has that special you are looking for!
I'm quite stunned myself that this movie isn't as noted as it should be, maybe because it hasn't gotten any professional reviews or that it simply didn't make it as far in movie-making history as other films that rivaled with this one.
I find it marvelous that i still can find movies like this one and still enjoy epic movie-making in my own home. Watch it! It is simple, simple but special.
I'm quite stunned myself that this movie isn't as noted as it should be, maybe because it hasn't gotten any professional reviews or that it simply didn't make it as far in movie-making history as other films that rivaled with this one.
I find it marvelous that i still can find movies like this one and still enjoy epic movie-making in my own home. Watch it! It is simple, simple but special.
Over 40 years old, yet 100% original
lundis199115 April 2010
This movie will change your life.
A bold statement, but nevertheless worthy for this masterpiece of a film, probably the most underrated movie of all time. Too bad it's so difficult to get hold of. My Italian friend showed it to me years ago from an old videotape, and I've been hunting for it ever since. If you ever manage to find it, you certainly are a lucky man, for this is one big piece of utter flaming excellence, people. I'd sure pay up to at least 200 US dollars if I could find a good copy.
Well, over to the movie. At first glance it might seem like your usual old world war II-flick, but make no mistake. This is something entirely different. The emotional story about an eccentric German soldier, it shows us the wicked reality of war from a whole new perspective. It bears some similarities to Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Slaughterhouse-Five", but is still absolutely original. The actors are quite unknown, but still do a fantastic job. I don't want to spoil too much of the plot, but you will be amazed at the sudden unexpected (yet brilliant) changes. Boy, if I could just take a tiny little peek into the exceptional mastermind that is Raffaele Andreassi, I would die a happy man...
The movie takes place during the gruesome Italian campaign (which cost more lives than any other campaign in Western Europe) and is refreshingly unconventional. Be prepared though, it will horrify you, boggle your mind, twist your brain into an unrecognizable lump of spaghetthata, but it will also captivate you, entrance you, and bring you into complete friggin ecstasy. Most important of all, it will make you THINK. If you enjoy your films a little deeper than the average Hollywood blockbuster, this is the perfect one for you. As I mentioned earlier, only problem is getting hold of it.
A bold statement, but nevertheless worthy for this masterpiece of a film, probably the most underrated movie of all time. Too bad it's so difficult to get hold of. My Italian friend showed it to me years ago from an old videotape, and I've been hunting for it ever since. If you ever manage to find it, you certainly are a lucky man, for this is one big piece of utter flaming excellence, people. I'd sure pay up to at least 200 US dollars if I could find a good copy.
Well, over to the movie. At first glance it might seem like your usual old world war II-flick, but make no mistake. This is something entirely different. The emotional story about an eccentric German soldier, it shows us the wicked reality of war from a whole new perspective. It bears some similarities to Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Slaughterhouse-Five", but is still absolutely original. The actors are quite unknown, but still do a fantastic job. I don't want to spoil too much of the plot, but you will be amazed at the sudden unexpected (yet brilliant) changes. Boy, if I could just take a tiny little peek into the exceptional mastermind that is Raffaele Andreassi, I would die a happy man...
The movie takes place during the gruesome Italian campaign (which cost more lives than any other campaign in Western Europe) and is refreshingly unconventional. Be prepared though, it will horrify you, boggle your mind, twist your brain into an unrecognizable lump of spaghetthata, but it will also captivate you, entrance you, and bring you into complete friggin ecstasy. Most important of all, it will make you THINK. If you enjoy your films a little deeper than the average Hollywood blockbuster, this is the perfect one for you. As I mentioned earlier, only problem is getting hold of it.
Truly A Masterpiece
chaooooz29 April 2010
When I walked out of the theater back in the 70s, I had a glamorous smile on my face, I had just seen Flashback for the first time and I instantly knew it would become classic. In this 1969-film Fred Robsham makes his debut on the big screens, unknown and criticized, this young Norwegian delivers one of history's best performances. Playing the role of a German soldier Heinz Prulier stuck in WW2 who experiences the toughest time of his life, falling into depression and suffering from continuous Flashbacks from his previous life. Luckily his friend John Bauer (Pilar Castel) is there to support him; this is the beginning of a lifetime friendship. This is a story about life, war, depression and friendship. How Flashback has gone unnoticed from public attention is a great mystery. This movie is truly a masterpiece and if you have the option to get your hands on a copy, don't doubt a second.
Do not believe everything you read!
gergelyh-1559623 April 2016
This is an okay anti-war movie, well watchable once. (If you can overlook the fact that the only surviving copy seems to be a bad-quality grainy digitalization from Italian TV.) It directs attention to a lesser-known face of war, the possibility that you can be left alone with your memories for a relatively long time (which is maddening) and also to a well-known aspect, the cruelty towards civilians -- but this is one that cannot be repeated enough. There are some remarkable views, as the timeless, sunny riverside rocks and Fred Robsahm plays the hero well (but nothing to write home about). The air of 1969 is strongly perceptible all the time, which is not necessarily a good thing as we are supposed to see and feel 1945 here.
This could have been better as a short. At this duration a lot of scenes feel too long. The whole film is slow: sometimes the high-tension kind of slow but often plain boring.
Some Norwegian and Swedish viewers seem to have distorted the rating here, which is now at 9 stars -- that is ridiculous. I'd say this movie is approximately as good as Werner Herzog's Signs of Life, the American Hell in the Pacific (1968) or the Japanese Fires on the Plain (1959), maybe the recent British "1971", all between 7 and 7.5 now. For some strange reason even the very best of war films do not score 9-10 at IMDb. Even Das Boot, Apocalypse Now, Ivan's Childhood and Come and See do not reach 9 at this moment -- and this film is clearly not in the same league!
This could have been better as a short. At this duration a lot of scenes feel too long. The whole film is slow: sometimes the high-tension kind of slow but often plain boring.
Some Norwegian and Swedish viewers seem to have distorted the rating here, which is now at 9 stars -- that is ridiculous. I'd say this movie is approximately as good as Werner Herzog's Signs of Life, the American Hell in the Pacific (1968) or the Japanese Fires on the Plain (1959), maybe the recent British "1971", all between 7 and 7.5 now. For some strange reason even the very best of war films do not score 9-10 at IMDb. Even Das Boot, Apocalypse Now, Ivan's Childhood and Come and See do not reach 9 at this moment -- and this film is clearly not in the same league!
Excellent!
b240363225 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of my favorite movies in the world! I totally love the action, love scenes, the hit and run scene, and the car hunting scene. Totally awesome! ;) But to all parents, there are some scenes that aren't that suited for kids, but only a few.
On the forum where I use to hang around, we got a big thread about this awesome film. I think I'm gonna buy it again, for it's awesomeness.
I just have to say that my favorite action scene is when the protagonist attacks the big jeep. And then the girl kicks his balls. ^^ Lol, so awesome, I really like his reaction.
// Rune from Norway/Sweden
On the forum where I use to hang around, we got a big thread about this awesome film. I think I'm gonna buy it again, for it's awesomeness.
I just have to say that my favorite action scene is when the protagonist attacks the big jeep. And then the girl kicks his balls. ^^ Lol, so awesome, I really like his reaction.
// Rune from Norway/Sweden
Beware: Other user reviews and ratings are fake
RonAltman10 June 2019
With a score of 8.6 and being from 1969, I tracked down this movie to see for myself if the hype was justified. The copy I obtained was a fairly damaged print in 4:3 format, quite grainy with washed out colors. It was watermarked 'C.S.C. Roma' in the bottom right corner, suggesting a VHS copy drawn from an archived 35mm (16mm?) print. No commercial releases seem to exist. The sound was in artificial stereo that produced a strange echo. It was effective in the opening war sequence, to be honest. The monologue by the protagonist switched between German (he was a Nazi soldier after all) and Italian for no apparent reason.
The film itself is very slow, pensive, unusual for a war movie of the time, but clearly the director wanted this to be an art film (and it was indeed in competition at the Cannes film festival in 1969). This was Andreassi's only feature film and it shows. He directed several documentary shorts before this and made only one more film (a documentary) 31 years after this. So basically his career was over after FLASHBACK.
Another user here has remarked on the rave reviews this film has received and how they seem to be coming from Scandinavian IMDb users, maybe fans of the Norwegian star of the film, Fred Robsahm, who only made a handful of appearances in B-movies in his career, and whose performance here is rather indifferent. Some of these reviews are so over-the-top, it's clear they are fake.
How this obscure and rare movie has garnered so many user ratings (1,075 at the time of writing) is a mystery in itself. Usually movies this difficult to find have only a few dozens of votes. I conclude that somebody managed to hack the IMDb in this respect (puts SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION in another light, doesn't it?).
Bruno Nicolai is falsely credited as the film's composer, he is not listed in the credits. In fact, there is no score whatsoever in this film! I wrote to the IMDb staff so that this misinformation gets corrected.
If you must see FLASHBACK, do so, but you will find it slow and repetitive. The acting is below average. It's not worthless, but no classic, definitely not.
The film itself is very slow, pensive, unusual for a war movie of the time, but clearly the director wanted this to be an art film (and it was indeed in competition at the Cannes film festival in 1969). This was Andreassi's only feature film and it shows. He directed several documentary shorts before this and made only one more film (a documentary) 31 years after this. So basically his career was over after FLASHBACK.
Another user here has remarked on the rave reviews this film has received and how they seem to be coming from Scandinavian IMDb users, maybe fans of the Norwegian star of the film, Fred Robsahm, who only made a handful of appearances in B-movies in his career, and whose performance here is rather indifferent. Some of these reviews are so over-the-top, it's clear they are fake.
How this obscure and rare movie has garnered so many user ratings (1,075 at the time of writing) is a mystery in itself. Usually movies this difficult to find have only a few dozens of votes. I conclude that somebody managed to hack the IMDb in this respect (puts SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION in another light, doesn't it?).
Bruno Nicolai is falsely credited as the film's composer, he is not listed in the credits. In fact, there is no score whatsoever in this film! I wrote to the IMDb staff so that this misinformation gets corrected.
If you must see FLASHBACK, do so, but you will find it slow and repetitive. The acting is below average. It's not worthless, but no classic, definitely not.
See also
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