Lack of attention to detail made me laugh

Rating: Null/10 (8 May 2001)

You don't have to be familiar with local history to note the innaccuracies of this film. The resistance fighters polishing their guns in public view, trucks smuggling ammunition in the middle of the night with their headlights on, WW2 planes moving about with the agility of a modern day fighter plane, the respectable folk of the village letting their daughters sit in the square to watch the soldiers party, in the presence of the local prostitutes. And why is a sensual tango (of the kind that Europeans were not aware in the '40s) with an enemy soldier not punishable, while a thank you peck on the cheek of the other enemy soldier is punished by death? No, this film doesn't pay any attention to detail and it doesn't even try to parody the situation with modern-day parallels, like Madden's other film, Shakespeare in Love. John Hurt is very good. Everyone else is mediocre. Entertaining if you switch off before and don't ask questions such as: How could Mandras have "walked all the way from Albania" to the island? Did he walk on water? This film will be featuring high on nitpicker's lists :-) Sophiae