MovieChat Forums > Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) Discussion > Unwarranted sympathy for the invaders?

Unwarranted sympathy for the invaders?

posted 18 years ago by max-tavros
5 replies | jump to latest

What were all those Italian troops doing in Cephalonia in the first place? They weren't tourists but an occupying force. Although it's tragic to see the slaughter of "innocents", the soldiers that perished were on the island for a mission, and the treatment of the natives during those occupation years was particularly harsh as the Italians saw this as an opportunity to expand their reign eastwards. So the question remains: Is the viewer's sympathy on the trials and tribulations of the occupying forces (love story aside)warranted?

[–] busyjohn 18 years ago

"the treatment of the natives during those occupation years was particularly harsh as the Italians saw this as an opportunity to expand their reign eastwards"

well, apparenlty not so in thie movie. Even if that was true, I guess people on the island would still feel lucky to have Italians instead of German or Russians.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] silesius-1 17 years ago

Tell that to 700 000 dead Abyssinians!

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] gazz_bond 17 years ago

Count the number of dead from italian empire building.
Then count the number of dead from British, French or American.

The Italian number will be far far less.

lol not to be pedantic but not if u count roman empire lol over 6 million people lost their lives to the gladius the short sword used by legions who knows how many if add in slavery gladiatorial combad spears archers cavalry catapult executions all the other infantry weapons etc an this is back when populations an so casualties were far smaller lol but yes the italians were very harsh against non whites like in africa as most europeans have been but were no where near ss or gestapo death camp level