"The Great War" by Monicelli: Laughing at Tragic Wars—Sarcasm and Satire in the Trenches!
Where no hero would willingly go
Back in the dark heart of 1916, two unlikely 'heroes,' Oreste and Giovanni, dodge danger with the grace of an elephant on roller skates. Their mission? To survive the madness of World War I without ever really trying to be heroic. Monicelli gives us a hilarious portrait of these two buddies scheming to dodge every hardship of war, often ending up in bigger troubles than those they were trying to avoid.
Their journey through mud and trenches becomes a series of misadventures bordering on the ridiculous, playing ping-pong between comic and catastrophic. Giovanni, the more reflective of the two, often finds naive solutions to their problems, while Oreste, with cynicism sharp as a bayonet, comments on every situation with quips that might just make you choke with laughter. Together, the duo not only faces armed enemies but also incompetent officers and the whims of fate, which seems to enjoy messing up their best-laid plans.
Among false attack orders, rollicking escapes, and a close encounter with a cow (yes, you read that right), "The Great War" paints the madness of war with strokes of dark humor. And as our 'heroes' shuffle from one trench to another, they teach us that perhaps, the only way to face the absurdity of war is to laugh at it, even if sometimes the laughter gets stuck in your throat.
A cynical applause
If you think war is all tragedy and heroism, prepare to be debunked. "The Great War" by Mario Monicelli is a fresco of comedy and satire so sharp it might almost make you forget the sound of bombs. But not quite, because let's face it, explosions are pretty loud.
Monicelli, that cunning director, handles his camera with the dexterity of a magician. He shows us a panorama of scenes so magnificently orchestrated that even the saddest soldier might crack a smile. The black-and-white photography isn't just a stylistic choice; it's a statement. Every frame is a painting, and each painting seems to scream, "Look how beautifully I can portray this disaster!"
The costumes? Perfect down to the last button, transporting you straight to 1916 without the need for a time machine. You almost feel guilty for admiring the fashion in such a tragic moment, but then you remember you're watching a movie and relax.
I give this masterpiece a solid 10/10. I guarantee this film is an emotional rollercoaster well worth the ride.
Why I recommend it
I recommend it because watching "The Great War" is like listening to a slightly exaggerated and highly sarcastic grandfather recount events too serious to be taken seriously. Monicelli not only critiques human flaws like pride and cowardice, but he does so with such verve that you can't help but laugh.
Why I don't recommend it
I don't recommend it if you're looking for a heroic and hagiographic representation of war. Here you'll find only mockery and jokes. Human flaws like selfishness and fear are exposed so rawly (and comically) that you might end up questioning the very nature of heroism.
