The Desert of the Tartars

Now this is what I call cinema at it's most "cinematic". I feel the tension, I can almost touch the atmosphere this movie produces, and the rich cast of European actors just brings a smile to my face. If there is one thing I love in cinema, it's the sense of mystery that they can bring.

This is, like some people would call, 'pure Cinema'.

It's a big-ass costume war drama for sure, with some beautiful locations shot in Iran, a seasoned director and a cast filled with giants of continental European cinema, but it disappointed me. Most of the running time is dedicated to showing us petty political power-struggles internal to the platoon with little else in terms of characters and story. What little mystery the "invisible army" presents is too transparently allegorical to add any excitement to the mostly trifling plot.

A near-perfect adaptation of one of my favorite novels. Well acted and beautifully shot at the Arg-é Bam. Translations from book to cinema rarely maintain so much original spirit as this film has. If I don't mark this film any better it wasn't from any failure in the adaptation, but only because I found the story more interesting to read than to watch.

Semana em honra de Maestro Ennio Morricone (1928 - 2020) filme #2. Demorei tanto para ver esse filme porque há anos o livro do Buzzati está na minha estante e queria lê-lo antes de ver sua adaptação. De fato é um grande filme, como é usual ao Zurlini, mostra a loucura militar (que vocês chamam de “disciplina”) com maestria, contando um um elenco de atores formado pelos mais reluzentes atores europeus daquele momento. Coleção Folha/Versátil Grandes Livros do Cinema.

Had never heard of that film before. Caught it on TV by accident, and... wow. I can't make a constructive critique yet, have to watch it again. This film just wowed me. Unbelievably brilliant & gut-wrenching film about the vanity of all things. Visually stunning. I found the film very gay, too - the all-male cast, virile comradeship, etc., particular emphasis on handshakes, always meaningful (with or without gloves) - smg almost inevitable in films dealing with military etiquette & decorum.