Les Damnés

"The Damned" is a completely boring movie. It feels like someone shot a home video on a phone or an old camcorder. While the landscapes are nice, the soldiers just wander around doing nothing. The changing seasons and snowfall add little to the experience. Overall, it's a total waste of time. You'd be better off watching a traffic jam from your window in a big city-far more entertaining than this film.

I thought the directors and filmmakers were famous, but I've never heard of them. It seems like the most iconic filmmakers create films for an intercultural audience, not for average people like me.

A film with an amazing non-professional cast, feels and sounds a bit like Nomadland. It's so up-close, you feel the fear and the lack of heroism, the vulnerability of men needing to be men. But no one knows why exactly. The insanity of war and the sadness of US patriotism. A film that never could have been made by Americans. Looking for a war movie? Don't go, this is a film for the ones looking for humanity, the ones who can take a step back and see the bigger picture in the message of the film. Great to stay closely attached to the characters, the not knowing is the best part. This is not about the 'story'

The Damned: The winter of 1862, a volunteer unit of Union soldiers has been sent to defend mountain territory, we're not told where it is, we don't even find out the names of the soldiers. After the regular troops head off, they are under the command of a John Brown style patriarch with a flowing beard, his teen sons have also enlisted. The troops are a mixed lot, some middle aged, even old, most in their thirties. All lacking in military experience, They share knowledge and skills are transferred. We witness mobile sentries, potshots at distant riders. A buffalo is shot and butchered, The bleak landscape, hills, mountain meadows, the drifting snow, the cold rations running low all add to a developing sense of existential despair. A battle takes place, we don't see the enemy, we do see the unit's casualties. War is hell, especially when you don't know why you're there anymore. Very much a Ken Loach style film with no set dialogue from day to day and many ordinary people acting, amateur like the soldiers. This improvisation leads to philosophical, religious and political discussions around campfires. Some of which outstay their welcome. But it's a minor distraction from this raw portrayal of men at war. Written and directed by Roberto Minervini, 8/10.

Roberto Minervini is known for his dramatized yet documentary approach of American rural life. Filled with beautiful camerawork and a meditation study amongst the Civil War era and it's characters, Minervini provides a interesting new approach on discussing the aimless and dreadful journey of soldiers wondering and observing their environment and the battles of war.

Strong sound designs, natural performances, and camerawork helps to establish the tone, atmosphere and environment. Including good direction used throughout and some of the battle sequences being well-directed and presented. Although some of the dialogue ends up feeling off-putting that destroys the realism aspects at times. As a whole, it's beautiful and mediative approach on the Civil War is something I found interesting.

I know this one isn't going to be on many people's liking but I like this a lot. Guess I am a bit pretentious lol.

Nice beards. Nice scenes of Civil Way soldiers walking in snow, and loading period correct weapons... Don't worry about subs.. there isn't more than 10 minutes of dialogue throughout the whole 80 minutes of videos. You will not need subs.. nothing significant is ever said. Watch to video.. characters only say things like "this how you fire this rifle, or pistol".

If this were a porn flick, you would only see a male and female actor gazing into each other's eyes for 75 minutes, and then it would exciting if one actor needed to blow their nose. Only positive thing in this movie is it takes place in some mountains somewhere, men have nice beards and somewhat period correct weapons.