COMANDANTE

Italy, 2023, 121 minutes, Colour.

Perfrancisco Favini, Johan Heldenbergh, Massimiliano Rossi, Silvia D'Smico, Johannes Wirix.

Directed by Eduardo De Angelis.

We don’t see many films about Italian involvement in World War II, especially naval warfare, and, more especially, submarine warfare.

The story is based on actual characters and events, over a couple of weeks in the autumn of 1940. The focus, as the title indicates, is on the submarine, Comandante, Salvatore Todaro, a dedicated man, injured in a training accident and wearing a back brace, devoted to his pregnant wife, a tough but sympathetic commander of his men.

Ultimately, again as the title suggests, the focus of this drama is on the man himself rather than on the details of war although these are important and significant. For this reviewer, the film is the portrait of a humane man, in situations of war, challenge to act in a humane way. Sequences are context for his humanity. However, quite a number of critics and bloggers have complained that there is not enough action in the film, some even suggesting that the focus on the humanity, sentiment, breaks the film down.

For this reviewer, with the focus on the humanity, the portrait is very moving, especially at the end and the final information about the fate of the Comandante.

But, there is quite some action, especially as the submarine tries to get through the straits of Gibraltar, tangles in steel, self-sacrifice to cut the submarine free. There is camaraderie amongst the troops, especially with the Neapolitan cook and his specials and his singing.

The key drama is the submarine’s encounter with a Belgian cargo ship, allegedly neutral, carrying British arms. The Belgian crew are stranded, an appeal to the Comandante, his ethic of doing the right thing means that the Belgians come on board, crowded, two trying to sabotage the submarine, but a greater bonding between the Italians and the Belgians – especially with the offer to make a special Belgian dish and the answer is Fries, something the Italians are wary of, but ultimately enjoy.

The Comandante is played by veteran Italian actor, Pierre Francesco Favini, always  convincing  t inhe wide range of roles he performs.

There is a mention or two of Mussolini and the film offers a reminder of Italy in World War II but also a reminder of humanity and integrity in leadership.

1. World War II story, Italian involvement, submarine warfare in the Atlantic?
2. Based on a true story, Salvatore Todaro, in the Italian Navy, his personality, command of men, leadership in the submarine, decisions, strategies, his relationship with his wife, voice-over messages to her, her pregnancy? His humanity, treatment of prisoners of war? His subsequent history, reputation, premonitions of dying in his sleep, his death, the Belgian sailors visiting his wife and daughter after the war? The credits and thanks to his daughter?
3. The atmosphere of the opening, his ejection into the sea, the drowning experience, rescue, rehabilitation, having to wear the brace, medical advice, the old man and his writing the quote in Greek (its later message and the Belgian translating it)? The scenes with his wife, her pregnancy?
4. Taking command of the submarine, the marching of the men, his premonition about the sailor and the later operation, his relationship with the men, morale speeches to the men, Marcon and the experience sailor, friendship, advice? The younger members, his interactions with them, with the cook, the menus, the reward of the gnocchi, his singing the Neapolitan song?
5. The visualising of the submarine, the exteriors and reconstruction, long tracking shot, the interiors, the cabin, the accommodation, the conning tower, the surface? In comparison with the merchant ship, the British ship?
6. The management of the submarine, in war combat? Comparisons with the Germans? Mentions of Mussolini and fascists? Salvatore and his humanity?
7. The strategies for passing through Gibraltar, going low, the dangers, reverberations? The tangling in the nets? The young sailor, volunteering, going out, the drama of severing the cables, his death, the requiem and the tributes?
8. Out in the Atlantic, the encounter with the Belgian cargo ship, Belgian neutrality, carrying British arms? The attacks on the planes flying over? The attack on the ship? Destroying the ship, the men in the water, the boat?
9. Rules of war, Salvatore and his decisions, Marcon and his opposition, the young Belgian coming on board, able to speak Italian, translate, the discussions? The prospects? The decision not to drown the sailors? Towing the boat? Taking them on board, the squashed accommodation, food, the humane sequence of the Belgian’s explaining how to make fries and the Italians amazed, eating them? The cook? The singing?
10. The two rebels, pulling out the cables, the effect of the Belgians, Ion Salvatore, hitting them? Putting them in the conning tower? The dangers of flooding and death?
11. The British ship, the appeal, the hesitation of the British captain, his deciding to let them go to safety?
12. The progress of the submarine, to the Azores, safety?
13. The final discussions with the Belgian captain, his gratitude, saying he would have all the men if the situation were reversed? The young Belgian, the story, his background, on the submarine, translations, friendship?
14. The aftermath and the sailors visit to the wife and daughter?
15. Some complaints that there was not enough action – but the film more of humanity?