War romance on Cephallonia: place of an Italian massacre

Rating: 8/10 (25 October 2004)

This movie is about a war romance between captain Corelli, an Italian artillery officer and a Greek local beauty called Pelagia during the summer and fall of 1943 on the Greek island of Cephallonia. The occupying Italian garrison behaves as friendly as possible to the local population, while the superior feeling Germans keep distance. Corelli is instantly charmed by Pelagia and tries to win her heart by playing on his mandoline.
The movie portrays quite historical the way to disaster of the 12.000 strong Italian Acqui Division and its East-front battle hardened commander general Gandin. In September 1943 Italy surrendered. Contradictionary orders from Rome and Athens to lay down arms and hostile reactions by the Germans, made the confused Italians to decide to took up their arms against their former allies. They sank a German landing ship with reinforcements for the small German garrison. Supported by Stuka's and Jagdpanzer the "elite" 1st Gebirgsjäger Division is transferred to the island and in a few days killed 1300 Italian troops, loosing only 200 men of their own. On 21 September the Italians were forced to surrendered and 5300 were instantly shot, including Gandin. Hitler himself personally ordered the "destruction" of the "traitors". The tragedy for the remaining Italians was not over because of the captured remaining Italians another 3000 lost their lives when their transports were sunk. The movie shows us a glance of this immense tragedy and proceeds with the escape of captain Corelli and his return to the island after the war. He meets Pelagia in the ruins of their house, destroyed by an earthquake. The movie starts and ends with showing us the simple local people and their daily problems. The war and the tragedy of the Italians seems to be totally forgotten.
(note: ironically most survivors of the surrendered 1st Mountain Division were shot themselves by the Yugoslav Army in 1945).