1976·History·2h 20m
7.1
★
Lieutenant Giovanni Drogo is assigned to the old Bastiani border fortress where he expects an imminent attack by nomadic fearsome Tartars.
Directed by Valerio Zurlini
based on novel or book
tatars
desert
fortress
destiny
tartar
meaning of life
1910s
war
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Cast
Jacques Perrin
Sten. Giovanni Drogo
Vittorio Gassman
Filimore
Giuliano Gemma
Mattis
Helmut Griem
Lieutenant Simeon
Philippe Noiret
General
Francisco Rabal
M.llo Tronk
Fernando Rey
Nathanson
Laurent Terzieff
Ten. Pietro Von Hamerling
Max von Sydow
Cap. Ortiz
Jean-Louis Trintignant
Magg. Med. Rovine
Giuseppe Pambieri
Ten. Rathenau
Manfred Freyberger
caporale
Crew
Valerio Zurlini
Director
Valerio Zurlini
Screenplay
André G. Brunelin
Screenplay
Ennio Morricone
Original Music Composer
Raimondo Crociani
Editor
Franco Arcalli
Editor
Luciano Tovoli
Director of Photography
Jacques Perrin
Producer
Bahman Farmanara
Producer
Dino Buzzati
Novel
Christian de Chalonge
Second Unit Director
Bruno Ricci
Production Secretary
Popular Reviews
32 reviews
Donkles
6.0★ · 07/25/26
The book was better but it did capture the “waiting for godot”ness and the desolation very well
The book was better but it did capture the “waiting for godot”ness and the desolation very well
Martina
8.0★ · 04/15/26
Mi è piaciuto molto, ma ho rischiato di addormentarmi diverse volte.
Cinematografia e costumi incredibili. Non sono nelle condizioni di analizzare molto, bello.
Cinematografia e costumi incredibili. Non sono nelle condizioni di analizzare molto, bello.
Mi è piaciuto molto, ma ho rischiato di addormentarmi diverse volte.
Cinematografia e costumi incredibili. Non sono nelle condizioni di analizzare molto, bello.
Cinematografia e costumi incredibili. Non sono nelle condizioni di analizzare molto, bello.
Nicks_927
9.0★ · 03/24/26
An excellent adaptation of a wonderful and fascinating story.
Knowing the book, as soon as I saw the runtime I expected a much slower overall pace, if not an outright “boring” one; instead, it’s a film that manages to stay engaging in every scene, with incredible cinematography, settings, and costumes that give an epic feel to a story whose very purpose is to portray waiting without anything ever really happening.
I perhaps expected more emphasis on the theme of endless waiting itself, and also on the total detachment from everything that existed beyond Fortress Bastiani, that is almost completely abandoned after the opening scenes, but the film still works.
Knowing the book, as soon as I saw the runtime I expected a much slower overall pace, if not an outright “boring” one; instead, it’s a film that manages to stay engaging in every scene, with incredible cinematography, settings, and costumes that give an epic feel to a story whose very purpose is to portray waiting without anything ever really happening.
I perhaps expected more emphasis on the theme of endless waiting itself, and also on the total detachment from everything that existed beyond Fortress Bastiani, that is almost completely abandoned after the opening scenes, but the film still works.
An excellent adaptation of a wonderful and fascinating story.
Knowing the book, as soon as I saw the runtime I expected a much slower overall pace, if not an outright “boring” one; instead, it’s a film that manages to stay engaging in every scene, with incredible cinematography, settings, and costumes that give an epic feel to a story whose very purpose is to portray waiting without anything ever really happening.
I perhaps expected more emphasis on the theme of endless waiting itself, and also on the total detachment from everything that existed beyond Fortress Bastiani, that is almost completely abandoned after the opening scenes, but the film still works.
Knowing the book, as soon as I saw the runtime I expected a much slower overall pace, if not an outright “boring” one; instead, it’s a film that manages to stay engaging in every scene, with incredible cinematography, settings, and costumes that give an epic feel to a story whose very purpose is to portray waiting without anything ever really happening.
I perhaps expected more emphasis on the theme of endless waiting itself, and also on the total detachment from everything that existed beyond Fortress Bastiani, that is almost completely abandoned after the opening scenes, but the film still works.
Alessandro
9.5★ · 03/22/26
Horrific, disintegrating and haunting. A ghost story from warriors past, present and future, that never were and never will be. Time is our punishment for being arrogant enough to create enemies and armies inside our rotting minds and bodies. One of the best anti-war manifesto ever put to film.
Horrific, disintegrating and haunting. A ghost story from warriors past, present and future, that never were and never will be. Time is our punishment for being arrogant enough to create enemies and armies inside our rotting minds and bodies. One of the best anti-war manifesto ever put to film.
Pino IL CAPRINO
7.0★ · 03/19/26
I need to rewatch this ASAP. ***7.0/10
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I need to rewatch this ASAP. ***7.0/10
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