Mediterraneo

Purchased as a gift for a family member

Every movie, like life itself, has a beginning and an ending. Comparing the beginning and the ending tells a lot about a movie. The opening picture in Mediterraneo shows a group of people, with little and common, shuffled together by fate. The ending shows a group of friends, who have learnt to share their lives.It is 1941, and a fierce battle is raging through the eastern part of the Mediterranean, where Italian troops are battling British forces for the control of Islands, such as it happened in similar ways between American troops and the Japanese in the Pacific theatre.On this background, an Italian platoon is sent to the tiny island of Kastellorizo, the southernmost island of the Dodekanesos, huddled against the Turkish coastline. The cruiser, that brought them to the Island, is sunk the same day, and their radio equipment fails. The soldiers gradually make contact with the Islanders. As the war progresses the soldiers and their little island are forgotten by the war-faring parties.Step-by-step they find new lives. Some become goat herders, fishermen, while others fall in love with the village prostitute. The commanding lieutenant discovers his talent for fresco painting, and restores the island's church, whilst his eleven members of the platoon serve as models for the followers of Jesus and other saints.In this movie, the soldiers collectively forget about their identity, and become part of the islander community. However, as the war ends, the island's male abducted population returns to reclaim their wives.Reluctantly, the Italians leave the island. Only one of them hides in a barrel, after having married the village's prostitute.This movie is not only highly entertaining. It plays in a rarely portrayed theatre of the WWII.It portrays the development of human society in the context of compassion and friendship.I highly recommend this movie to spectators interested in psychology, the absurdity of life, and human development.Franz L. Kessler [...]

It’s one of my favorite films.I wanted to own it, so I could see it again and again.To my dismay, I received it in Italien without English subtitles… capice nienteWhat do you sujets me beside learning Italien ?Have a pleasant evening.Daniel Landau

It's good that this film has made it to DVD. I ran across this movie years ago on VHS in a video store. As a university student long before that I spent a summer on a small Greek island working on an archeology dig. Living on that island among the farmers and fishermen and their families, in their tiny village (one backpacking tourist showed up that summer) was a beautiful experience. Those people were the finest part of humanity you could ask to be with. So I rented the video just to see some of the same kind of Greek island landscape and buildings and people again. I was very satisfied with that aspect. At least one reviewer is not happy with the scenics of this film, but the real beauty of Greece's islands is a subtle, quiet thing and one can't expect to be overwhelmed by it on a television screen. The island is a star, but the story and atmosphere of this film is what really carries one away. See this movie. It is true. Like the Italian soldiers in the film, I was full of sadness when I had to leave the island and go back to the 20th century.

Imagine being left on a small island with a small sleepy greek fishing village with no electronics and no stress of everyday life. Just idilic life away from the modern world, especially from a world war. Would you know that you had found that idilic life if you wonder on to it by happenstance? It's enjoyable movie with lovable characters that didn't realize what they had stumble on to at the time. I am giving this dvd a 4 star not so much because of the movie, I would give it five, but because it isn't widescreen and doesn't say what ratio it is on the website.

I love this movie, so I hope others will watch it. I like Mediterraneo because it is about people trying to find their purpose or way in life. I think part of the positive message of the movie is that it indeed is possible to find happiness and purpose. However, like many films and books about finding purpose (Family Man, Lion King, The Alchemist, Siddhartha) finding purpose for these characters occurs as a result of getting away from their previous life and having time to reflect. It is not only a thoughtful film, it is also quite funny. My only criticism is that the quality of the picture is average. It looks kind of like a VHS copy of the movie. The story is 5-star, but the copy is just average.

There are so many facts to know, it is pick any out. The Italians are looking to take over the Island as a strategic lookout along with their communications gear. Early in the war, the Italians are on the side of the Russians. The ship that brought the soldiers is blown up shortly after dropping them off. No one knows the soldiers are now abandoned. The island residents are all Women because the men went off to war. It is a wonderful story regarding human behavior.

Ah, My Italian side, The lovely Greek families that I have had the pleasure ofworking with and the pains of a war still remembered put aside for some goodlove and laughter. I could watch this movie a dozen times and not be bored.

Fantastic, I saw this film years ago and was so pleased to watch it again via DVD sadly not on Netflix or AmazonPhotography beautiful fun to watch

This is one of my favourite fils.

The package arrived safely and has become a wonderful addition to my dvds. A great and moving film that deserved all the awards it received. Thoroughly recommended.

This had no English subtitles. Bought it for my wife as a Christmas present and she was very disappointed as she had seen it when she was younger (with subtitles)

It is what it is, a quirky film. Makes me smile that the translation isn't exactly what is being said, but then Italian can't always be translated pal.😉👍