Mediterraneo

A small unit of Italian soldiers is stranded on a remote Greek island, cut off from communications and increasingly indifferent to the war, forming bonds with the islanders. When Italy surrenders in 1943, some choose to stay behind rather than return home.

Italy occupied numerous Greek islands during the war; after Italy's armistice with the Allies in September 1943, many isolated Italian garrisons faced confusion, and some soldiers deserted or were captured by German forces.

A gentle, comic fable rather than a strict historical account, though it reflects the real disorientation of Italian troops after the 1943 armistice.

Directed by Gabriele Salvatores

Cast: Diego Abatantuono, Claudio Bigagli, Giuseppe Cederna, Vanna Barba

Positioned at 1941–September 1943 within the Italian occupation of the Aegean phase of the war, as part of the Italian Aegean garrison. This is entry 35 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Italian Army
• Aegean
• occupation
• comedy-drama
• armistice

• 

  Captain Corelli's Mandolin

  1941–September 1943

• 

  The Guns of Navarone

  1943

• 

  Life Is Beautiful

  1939–1945

• 

  El Alamein: The Line of Fire

  October 23 – November 4, 1942

• 

  In Which We Serve

  1939–May 1941

• 

  Action in the North Atlantic

  1941–1942