Porzûs (1997) User Reviews

A good movie. Recommendable for those fond of the minor History (if it is minor!) of the small groups fighting against the Nazifascists in Northern-Italy during WW-II.

[lchiari · 8/10 · 24 January 2003]

A duel between two old and sick survivors of the Italian "Resistenza", once fighting with different groups and different political views against the Nazis and the Fascists, and the ghost of communism in the background. Continuous flashbacks take the leading characters (Gastone Moschin and Gabriele Ferzetti) from 1980 to 1945, on the border between Friuli (Italy) and Yugoslavia.

The movie gives an original contribution (and many still are needed!) to the filmography of the WW-II in Italy and particularly to the hard life and the actual role played by the young Partisans in the final victory of the Democracy.

Some useless effects do not change my recommendation to see this movie.

I also like to clap the performance of Gianni Cavina as "Spaccaossi".

An endless unique war

[GianfrancoSpada · 9/10 · 27 October 2023]

A very good movie about one of the most tragic episodes of the Italian Civil War that occurred in the final years of WWII. A powerful narrative based on memories and well-constructed dialogues emotionally brings to the present the tragic events of the fratricidal struggle against the Nazi-fascist occupation in northern Italy.

Visually, the film reconstructs that landscape and rural Italy where the narrated events took place very well, and everything is highly believable, from the performances of the protagonists to the settings, costumes, and makeup used.

The film does, to some extent, exhibit cinematic stylings from the late '90s, with some editing effects that seem unnecessary and out of place, such as the facial morphings of the protagonists. Although it must be said that they help the viewer understand and place the characters in the context of the narrative, which can be challenging to follow due to the presence of numerous protagonists.

The soundtrack, which discreetly accompanies the film, is good but not excellent. On one hand, this is a merit as it doesn't overshadow the visual storytelling, but on the other hand, it prevents the film from reaching a higher cinematic level.

In conclusion, it's a very good movie that, with a bit more effort, could have become a cinematic reference in its genre, if not a masterful work.