Marco Bellocchio's trenchant VICTORY MARCH is about the madness of military life and its children's power games. It deals with the psychological ravishing of a sensitive and literate young man during the first year in his service in the Italian army. He is abused and shoved about by officers and non-commissioned personnel, and when he has the audacity to become a good soldier, he is shunned by the other trainees. The soldier, Passeri, is played by the talented Michele Placido, who was the youngest brother in THREE BROTHERS and the teacher in FOREVER MARY, both made after this film. Much of the movie treats Passeri's relationship with a strict and possibly psychotic young officer (Franco Nero) and his sluttish young wife, played by French actress Miou-Miou. The movie delves into the relationship between power and sexuality, has some scenes that are rather graphic. But it is another example of Bellocchio's exhilarating talent which can be both savage and humane, satiric and dramatic, and most certainly always fascinating.
2 Reviews
An army in the service of the people?
dbdumonteil18 June 2006
....the hero says ."An army in the service of whores and fags,more like!"
Bellochio's main merit was to treat the subject (military service in Italy but at the time ,before most the European armies became professional,it had an international feel) seriously.In Italy or in France,coarse comedy was rampant:France had the Charlots and their dismal Bidasses (=squaddies) farces and Italy had Edwige Fenech cast as a doctor in the barracks.
All that concerns the barracks atmosphere ,the stupid orders, the mind-destroying drill ,the humiliations is successful.Patrick Dewaere appears as a blasé cynical officer.
On the other hand,all that concerns officer Franco Nero's private life with wife Miou-Miou -whom he treats like dirt-is less convincing,looking like a poor man's "Reflection in a golden eye" .
A courageous movie,however.
Bellochio's main merit was to treat the subject (military service in Italy but at the time ,before most the European armies became professional,it had an international feel) seriously.In Italy or in France,coarse comedy was rampant:France had the Charlots and their dismal Bidasses (=squaddies) farces and Italy had Edwige Fenech cast as a doctor in the barracks.
All that concerns the barracks atmosphere ,the stupid orders, the mind-destroying drill ,the humiliations is successful.Patrick Dewaere appears as a blasé cynical officer.
On the other hand,all that concerns officer Franco Nero's private life with wife Miou-Miou -whom he treats like dirt-is less convincing,looking like a poor man's "Reflection in a golden eye" .
A courageous movie,however.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
