The Deserter (1983)
In this tragic story that has an unrealized potential to tug at the emotions, a woman in mourning for her two sons lost in World War I is the only one in her village determined to financially support a war memorial. The village poor have too little money, and the richer are tight-fisted. She has given a whole 15 years of savings -- yet the good priest, for whom she works as a maid, is not enthusiastic about her action because he is worried that the memorial will not remind the villagers of past horrors and suffering but disguise the human cost of war in rhetoric. As the memorial's advocates begin to sustain the day, flashbacks show how the woman's youngest son shot his captain, deserted the army, and came to die of fever while in his mother's care. The priest helped her as much as possible, yet he feels compelled to tell the authorities that her son was a deserter.
Cast
- Isella Orchis
- Irene Papas - Mariangela
- Mattia Sbragia - Saverio
- Omero Antonutti - Father Coi
Screenplay
Themes
The Horror of War and Humanity
Keywords
world war i, war memorial
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is The Deserter about?
- In this tragic story that has an unrealized potential to tug at the emotions, a woman in mourning for her two sons lost in World War I is the only one in her village determined to financially support a war memorial. The village poor have too little money, and the richer are tight-fisted. She has given a whole 15 years of savings -- yet the good priest, for whom she works as a maid, is not enthusiastic about her action because he is worried that the memorial will not remind the villagers of past horrors and suffering but disguise the human cost of war in rhetoric. As the memorial's advocates begin to sustain the day, flashbacks show how the woman's youngest son shot his captain, deserted the army, and came to die of fever while in his mother's care. The priest helped her as much as possible, yet he feels compelled to tell the authorities that her son was a deserter.
- Who directed The Deserter?
- The Deserter was directed by Giuliana Berlinguer.
- Who stars in The Deserter?
- The Deserter stars Isella Orchis, Irene Papas, Mattia Sbragia, Omero Antonutti.
- How long is The Deserter?
- The Deserter has a runtime of 1h 32m (92 minutes).
- What genre is The Deserter?
- The Deserter is a War, Drama film.
- Where was The Deserter produced?
- The Deserter was produced in Italy.
- What are the themes of The Deserter?
- The themes of The Deserter include: The Horror of War and Humanity.