The Truce (1997)
5/10
The Long (and Boring) Return Home
22 May 2015
In 1945, when the Red Army releases the inmates of Auschwitz, the Italian chemistry Jew Primo Levi (John Turturro) wants to go home in Turin. He embarks in a Russian train and befriends a Greek man (Rade Serbedzija). Soon he learns that the trains is heading to the opposite direction and when it stops, Primo and The Greek decide to walk but he is left alone. Along his journey, he spends a period in a Soviet Camp for former prisoners and befriends a group of Italian POW. Only nine months later, he arrives in Turin.

"La Tregua" is a movie about the journey of an Italian Jew returning home in the chaos of the after war. The plot is too long; boring in many moments; and seems to be unrealistic. The sad photos we usually see from Auschwitz show skin and bone survivors traumatized by the hellish period in the camp. However, Primo and his friends are able to walk for long distances, carrying heavy belongings as if they were athletes. When Hitler falls, surprisingly there are fireworks in a big party. Last but not the least, most of the cast is European and able to speak different languages; John Turturro basically speaks only English. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "A Trégua" ("The Truce")
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