This film is the first one I have seen focusing (very realistically) on the war which took place in the Alps between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire during 1914-1916.
The movie's focus is divided between the love story between a young Austrian man (Anders) and a young Italian woman (Maria) who had been attending the marriage of her brother to Ander's sister, and who chose to remain in Ander's town at the outbreak of war, and the story of the often surreal and harrowing combat which took place at high altitude on mountain peaks in the Alps.
Anders is conscripted to join the Kaiserjager, which is assigned to defend their homes in the neighboring valley, while Maria's brother is conscripted into the Italian Army and fights to invade the same valley. Both Anders and his Brother-in-law experience different slices of insanity, loneliness and disillusionment with their respective side's military, and long to be reunited with their loves.
The love stories are told with sensitivity and plausibility, and do not detract from the historical qualities of the film. If you are interested in WW I, or simply curious about life in the movie's set, ..you owe it to yourself to view this film. I found it far more striking and poignant than any version of "Farewell to Arms".
