''Soldati - 365 all'alba'' (i.e. "Soldiers 365 Days Before Discharge") is a 1987

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Marco Risi Marco Risi (born 4 June 1951) is an Italian film director, screenwriter, film producer and cinematographer. Born in Milan, he is son of director Dino Risi. After graduating from Liceo Scientifico, Risi joined the faculty of philosophy, but aban ...

. The film, which deals with the

military service Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job (volunteer military, volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription). Few nations, such ...

seen as a traumatic experience, marked the switch of Risi from low-wattage comedies to more complex themes. Before coming into production, the screenplay was submitted to the

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

to obtain the necessary permits to shoot in real barracks, but it received an outright refusal, as the Ministry feared to exacerbate the already harsh controversy that at the time had invested the Army because of a chain of suicides in the barracks as a result of

hazing Hazing (American English), initiation, beasting (British English), bastardisation (Australian English), ragging (South Asian English) or deposition refers to any activity expected of someone in joining or participating in a group that humiliates, ...

. The film, therefore, was filmed partly in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

between the Empire Studios, the private school Nazarene College and the psychiatric hospital Santa Maria della Pietà, and

Trieste Trieste ( , ; ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital and largest city of the Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, as well as of the Province of Trieste, ...

, in the museum of national history.Fabrizio Corallo, «Ragazzi di naja», ''Panorama'', 31 May 1987, p. 15.

Plot

The year is 1987. In a barracks in Pontebba, various young people who differ from each other in character, ways of life and social background are gathered for military service. To target the recruits are first the older soldiers (the ''nonni''), then

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

Fili, who shows particular dislike for private Scanna. The officer vents on the soldier his existential dissatisfaction, the disappointment for a lack of promotion, the morbid jealousy for his wife Anna. But despite the harassment, the dismissal is approaching. On the very last night, the young soldiers, fully armed, are called for a strange exercise and leave by plane to an unknown destination.

Cast

Claudio Amendola Claudio Amendola (born 16 February 1963) is an Italian actor, film director and television presenter. He starred in the 1993 film '' The Escort'', which was entered into the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. Biography Born in Rome and the son of act ...

as Claudio Scanna * Massimo Dapporto as

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

Armando Fili *

Ivo Garrani Ivo Garrani (6 February 1924 – 25 March 2015) was an Italian actor and voice actor. In films since 1952, Garrani is possibly best known for his role as Prince Vajda in Mario Bava's '' Black Sunday'' (1960). Biography Born in Introdacqua, ...

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

* Claudio Botosso as Adalberto Romani * Alessandro Benvenuti as Buzzi * Agostina Belli as Anna Fili * Manlio Dovì as Salvatore Sciaffa * Pietro Ghislandi as Dario Del Grillo * Antonella Ponziani as Annina * Sandro Ghiani as

Corporal Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...

Porcu * Ugo Conti as

Sergeant Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...

Gallo

References

External links

* 1987 films Italian drama films 1987 drama films Films directed by Marco Risi Films scored by Manuel De Sica 1980s Italian films 1980s Italian-language films Italian-language drama films {{1980s-drama-film-stub