Mediterranean provides some of the most popular tourist destinations in the world due not only to its great natural beauty, but also due to its long history. That history, however, had many tragic and bloody events, some of them occurring relatively recently, during Second World War. One such episode represents part of the plot of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, 2001 epic period drama directed by John Madden.
The film is based on the eponymous 1993 novel by British autor Louis de Bernières. The plot begins in 1940 on the Greek island of Cephalonia where local physician Dr. Iannis (played by John Hurt) has ambitious plans for his daughter Pelagia (played by Penelope Cruz), whom he prepares to study medicine. Because of that he is not too happy when she gets engaged to Mandras (played by Christian Bale), poor fisherman who also happens to be illiterate. Iannis and the rest of islanders would soon have more pressing matters to worry about when Fascist Italy invades Greece. Mandras, like most of the local youths, decide to defend his country and joins army. War at first goes well for Greeks; they not only repel Italian invasion but push Italians deep into Albania. Hitler, however, decides to rescue his allies and all the might of German Wehrmacht is thrown at brave, but poorly equipped Greeks. Greece is finally overran and Cephalonia ends up in Italian occupation zone. It soon becomes apparent that Italians don’t take war too seriously – instead they dedicate themselves to wine, songs and women. Relations between local population and occupying force gradually thaw. Artillery Captain Antonio Corelli (played by Nicolas Cage) is quartered in Dr. Iannis’ house and he befriends not only his host, but Pelagia too. Two of them begin romance that would be interrupted with return of Mandras, who has joined local partisan group. True ordeal for the lovers come in September 1943 when Italy capitulates to Allies. Italian garrison on the island doesn’t want anything other than return to home, but their former German allies are determined to prevent Italians to leave weapons and equipment to partisans. Because of that sleepy Mediterranean island will finally experience war at its worst.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin has a plenty of similarities with The English Patient. Both films are based on a bestselling novel with romantic plot set in broader context of Second World War, both films are produced by Miramax, and both films are directed by highly respected British director. The latter suggested serious Oscar ambitions, especially because Madden’s previous work Shakespeare in Love had won the golden statue. Ambitions weren’t realised which could be partly explained with bad timing of general distribution and subpar reviews. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin suffered most because of the poor casting. Nicolas Cage simply overacts in his attempts to make his semi-comic character as likeable as possibly. Penelope Cruz is surprisingly bland, and even more in scenes with Cage, which don’t show any kind of chemistry between two main actors. The rest of the cast is better, and that includes John Hurt as Pelagia’s father and narrator. Christian Bale is good as character that goes through transformation from simple youth to a man hardened by war. David Morrisey is also good as German officer who unsuccessfully tries to mimic carefree hedonistic lifestyle of his Italian colleagues.
Whenever camera strays from Cage and Cruz, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is actually a solid film. Cinematograhy by John Toll very successfully captures natural beauty of Cephalonia. Madden, despite being specialist for romantic comedy, shows very good skill in realistic reconstruction of chaotic WW2 combat. Visual splendour, on the other hand, can’t compensate for the holes in Shawn Slovo’s script. Perhaps the most glaring of them all is complete disregard for 1940s ideological differences that would erupt into Greek Civil War, event extensively covered in de Bernières’ novel, but completely ignored in the film. On the other hand, complexities of Greek politics were perhaps too much for audience which only wanted old-fashioned blend of romance and history. Those viewers are going to be mostly pleased with this film, and same can be said of WW2 buffs that would see one of lesser known episodes of that conflict reconstructed.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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