The Truce (1997) User Reviews

The Holocaust: with some detail you've never seen before...

[JerryP-2 · 8/10 · 24 March 2000]

I suppose everyone has seen one or more film representations of The Holocaust, but this one is different. It focuses not on the horror of the events themselves, rather, it's main thrust is struggle to return from the nightmare.

I liked the film for its apparent accuracy in location and the detail of what it was like for some of the Jews liberated from Auschwitz to find their way back to their homelands. Virtually helpless, the Jews in Primo Levi's autobiography embark on an odyssey that eventually gets them back to their homes -- at least some of them. All the more surprising is that Stalin's Soviet Union is their main benefactor throughout all of this. While this is supposed to be an autobiography, I have to wonder at some of the scenes, for example, when the train load of Jews arrives at the Munich main rail station, a former Werhmacht soldier kneels before them. In another, a Jew with barely enough food for himself, gives some bread to German POWs in Russia so that he can watch them fight over it. The irony is unmistakable.

Overall, I liked the film. It's one you have to see more than once because of all the detail. It's a bit difficult to follow the dialog in part, because much of it is in the language of the people who are represented: Poles, Russians, Ukrainians, French, Germans, Italians. Not only that, but the English dialog is accented and somewhat difficult to follow.

I intend to see it at least one or two more times in order to get the full effect of this very well done story.

A very well crafted film with compelling undercurrents.

[=G= · 8/10 · 16 December 2000]

"The Truce" chronicles the homeward bound odyssey of an Auschwicz survivor - Primo played by Turturro - in the chaos immediately following the fall of the Third Reich. Although Primo, an Italian Jew, is the central character, the camera spends more time on the people, places, and vicissitudes which he encounters on his journey from Krakow to Turin. This beautifully shot, somber film with an abundance of extras and a minimal core cast has no specific focus. The interest in this film is in the story and the story is in the telling. A very worthy cinematic endeavor.

One Sensitive Human Being's Post-Auschwitz Experience

[[e-mail] · 8/10 · 1 September 2008]

"The Truce" is unlike any other Holocaust film I've ever seen in at least two respects. First, it is focused on the return to their homes via the Soviet Union of a group of survivors from Auschwitz. Second, the events are distilled through the eyes of a particular victim, Primo Levi, an Italian chemist and disbelieving Jew, who recorded his experiences in an autobiographical memoir, "The Reawakening," transformed into a film by the Italian director, Francesco Rosi. Levi himself is portrayed by John Turturro, the only name likely to be recognized by an American audience. Turturro is a skilled actor and his performance is marked by emotional restraint. There are some telling scenes in the movie (and improbable coincidences relating to reappearance of characters who had previously departed the scene for destinations unknown). What holds the film together and makes it worth seeing is Levi's sensibility and occasional direct quotes: e.g., "In a world where there is Auschwitz, there is no God." This is not a great movie but it is very good.

how to turn a masterpiece of literature into a lame movie

[vernetto · 6/10 · 7 May 2008]

I have read "Se questo è un uomo" 15 times, and I also consider "La Tregua" as one of the most extraordinary Odysseys of our times. I can hardly find any of Levi's masterpieces in this hodgepodge of episodes, hardly connected to each other and with barely any historical explanation of the events. Several comments about god and religion reported in the movie were not even present in the book, giving the impression that the director wanted to twist Levi's thought to serve his own philosophical agenda. The movie relies too much on images and too little on Levi's own considerations. Some effort has been put in trying to represent the chaotic world of those times, but I would have appreciated less scenic representation and more intimate comments.

Moments of Agnieszka Wagner

[caspian1978 · 6 December 2004]

The Truce is a great movie. Even if this is not your type of movie that you would want to see, the story in itself is terrific. The story of post-holocaust, the close of the 2nd World War in Europe and the prime of Stalin in command is the setting of the movie. The actors bring out the greatness of the story with their colorful and realistic characters. This story, of a kind of Italian band of brothers, trying to get back home is the plot to one of the best movies dealing with redemption in 1945 Europe. Agnieszka Wagner is down right stunning. Although she plays a simple role, it is moments like these, with her on camera that make the movie good. The entire movie is packed with moments of laughter, horror, sweetness and truth. The Truce is a forgotten classic of its genre.

Biographic movie based on the novel by Primo Levi, about his true account of traveling home after liberation of Auschwitz at the end WWII

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 2 April 2020]

This is a good adaptation based on Primo Levi book about his risked odyssey post-war, as he is back to Italy across several European countries to arrive in Italy. Main character is Primo Levi himself, John Turturro who committed the project long time ago, playing a loner and observer ex-inmate who flees from Auschwitz concentration camp and shortly after he carries out an ardous journey home to Turin. Being accompanied by other prisoners, the unfortunate compadres : Massimo Ghini, Rade Serbezja, Stefano Dionisi, all of them go crossing diverse countries to get their destination.

It is a worthy exercice but results to be slow-moving and boring, at times. Being well produced by the great producer Dino De Laurentiis, appropriately photographed by Pasqualino Di Santis and professionally directed by Francesco Rosi, though it has some flaws and gaps. It is a nice and thought-provoking film, but not excellent, concerning Primo Levi's traveling, as well as his slow rediscovery of hope and life . Including some flashbacks about the Auschwitz concentration camp with sad and violent frames . It has the usual trappings of a grand historical fresco, but it results to be more an introspective drama than an epic movie. To be sure the movie is enjoyable and strong, regarding the plight of the future novelist Levi and other survivors from Auschwitz and other concentration camps. As trivia to add Primo Levi committed suicide in 1987, bit later on giving Franco Rosi's rendition his blessing. A sensitive and brooding picture dealing with doubts facing the liberated prisoners and psychological dilemmas . Here a compelling but understated John Turturro gives a fine acting, delivering the best interpretation of his long career, as the ex-prisoner attempting to reclaim his humanity later experiencing unimaginable terror and distress.

It contains a sensitive and moving musical score by Luis Bacalov. As well as evocative and adequate cinematography by Pasqualino De Santis. And efficiently directed by Francesco Rosi, providing an introspective look about Nazism consequences with harrowing scenes, though including some failures. Francesco Rosi was a pretty good Italian filmmaker wo directed intense drama such as : Three brothers, Christ stopped at Eboli, Lucky Luciano, The Palermo connection, Carmen, and this The Truce. Rating 6.5/10. Decent and better than average movie.

Almost a classic, BUT....

[ecorno · 6/10 · 9 March 1999]

This movie had nothing but promise. It was a very slow moving film and the dialect was extremely difficult to understand. I hate saying anything bad about it, seeing as if it deals with an incredible subject - it just moved too slowly for my vote to turtle above a 6.

I am surprised that this movie about Auschwitz most famous inmate Primo Levi is not more well-known?!

[Erik_Surewaard · 7/10 · 11 December 2023]

This movie is based on the true events that took place in one of the most renowned Auschwitz prisoners Primo Levi. More specifically, it is the last book of his experiences, whereby this book starts at the moment that Auschwitz is liberated, i.e. As end of january 1945. It describes his experiences he had during his travels in the soviet liberated part of the former Nazi empire.

Note: for the people that have never heard of "Is this a Man" - which describes his experiences in Auschwitz - one of the most impressive books that I have ever read.

With great acting and stunning scenes it is an altogether convincing image of how the situation may have been in the period up to the end of the war. It does not show the continuous women abuse that was ongoing during those times, but it shows that hunger and food were a day to day battle.

Overall, this movie deserves a score of 7.4 / 10, resulting in a very well earnt 7 star IMDb rating. I am personally surprised by the fact that this movie is not more known.

Great..

[mr_arminius · 10/10 · 6 September 2001]

Just saw it, think it was great. Had no problems understanding the english at all. Kinda slow but I think that's the only way to make a movie like this, especially when it's a true story .. Nice to see a slow movie sometimes, most movies of today are to hectic. Good movie, absolutely worth while seeing.

Worthy depiction of history

[robertemerald · 7/10 · 5 July 2020]

It's worth seeing The Truce for all the effort put into making it historically correct. Full of trains, transit camps and authentic scenery and cinematography, it would be hard to criticise the production. There are some great characters here too, lead by John Turturro, whom puts in a supreme performance. It's an enjoyable and interesting watch, and for me, as interesting and enjoyable as was the book.

Almost!

[lynzee · 5/10 · 27 September 2000]

The movie which held great promise seemed to stop short of coherency. The dialog was hard to understand and the characters never really were fully developed. Some things should be left alone as books. This was one of them.

The broad scope of the book could not be shown and the internal thought processes simply did not make the transition.

THE best film I've seen in years

[russianwriter · 10/10 · 30 August 2003]

THE best film I've seen in years . Primo ( John Turturro in his best role )is a survivor of Auschwitz , survivor of Holocaust . He is Italian Jew saved by Russians at the end of WWII . All he wants is so simple - just to go home . But railroads are destroyed and he has to make a detour true Minsk ( Minsk is a capital of Belorussia . Minsk is a hometown of my mother . Minsk is the city where only 4 buildings was still standing after WWII . Minsk is the city which my mother had to leave when she was 2 years old and hide under the horse cart during the air strikes ... she still can't talk about it .)At the same time he need to learn how to live usual life , how to look without scare , without pain . How to live at all . What makes this film 10 stars out of 5 ... little details , the feeling , the scare in everyone's eyes . I know this feeling . I know this scare . I don't want to remember it , but this film brought it back . And especially now I think everyone have to learn it ... before it is too late. This film is very slow and very deep . Acting on highest level - I even forgot that this is actors "acting". What shocked me most - the details , just little things which are so important , This film have to be watched by everyone and taken deep into our hearts . This kind of story might and have to change our world for better.

Almost there, but not quite

[dierregi · 7/10 · 30 September 2023]

Based on "La Tregua" the bestselling autobiography by Primo Levi about his return from Auschwitz, the film inevitably had to compress the many stories, characters and events narrated in that unforgettable book, but unfortunately it went the wrong way.

It starts with Primo and a fellow prisoner carrying a body to a common grave and watching four Russians soldiers on horseback approaching the Lager, just like in the book. That was January 27th, 1945 and Primo Levi was very sick. After that day he spent over one month in the infirmary managed in Auschwitz by the Red Army and when he finally left in March, he was extremely weak and emaciated.

In the film, John Turturro is just a bit skinnier than usual but otherwise healthy and wandering around Krakow with the Greek Mordo Nahum, without any problems. Once Primo bonds with the Italians Cesare, Daniele, Ferrari and a couple of others, they are given minimal back stories and then sent from a temporary refugee camp to the Red House as to a bucolic holiday, waiting for the train that will take them back to Italy.

Time is squandered for scenes with a couple of attractive Russian women (Galina and Irina) and for an almost grotesque scene of Primo following a female former inmate to a hut in the woods.

The poignancy, drama, difficulties and nostalgia of the characters are glossed over making them little more than props around Primo. In real life, Primo Levi was a talker, who repeatedly expressed his need to communicate verbally with people, but in the film he's a silent, passive man, almost transfixed by Galina first and by the female inmate after.

At the end of the movie, in Munich a German soldier is seen kneeling to Primo when he shows his striped jacket with the yellow star, but in reality Levi wrote that the Germans were totally indifferent and avoided the refugees as much as possible. They did not feel guilty at all.

Finally, the soundtrack is atrocious and omnipresent, a sort of out of contest melancholic country western theme, strident with the geographical location and the contest of the story.

Yet despite the mediocre results, I still give it a seven, because somehow it manages to convey almost the right feeling, albeit skipping over the harshest most depressing aspects. At least, it made this true story more widely known.

disappointing made-for-america markets

[camel-9 · 4/10 · 20 August 1999]

for being a movie on such a sensitive subject, the holocaust, and directed by one of the great italian directors, I really had high expectations. But there were silly moments that were clearly intended to please the movie going crowds, those who can enjoy a romantic remark or stereotyped environment, but not challenging a movie audience to think a little more. Scenes like the dining table with italian soldiers, for example, was just silly. While all the pan-european characters spoke in their native tongues, the italian soldiers were dubbed in english. The dialoges were clearly intended to please the crowds, to show how "fun-loving" italians are, always singing, always eating, always together. From a great book, a mediocre movie. Contrast this with another holocaust movie made also in italy, "Life is Beautiful", and in this film, the language differences is instead exploited to make it a great film. As for the tongue that should be used to make a holocaust film authentic, Yiddish should be used, except of course for the russian and german soldiers, and the western european jews that spoke no yiddish. All eastern european jews that found themselves struggling together in the camps did not speak Polish, Romanian, German, or Hungarian, but the language that was common to most of all, Yiddish. Don't know of a holocaust movie that is like that.

The odyssey of an italian Jew from Auschwitz to his home

[STAiN-6 · 10/10 · 24 March 1999]

A really great movie. From my point of view, this hits the same genre that "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Thin Red Line" created in 1998. Francesco Rosi does neither need the bloody pictures of Spielberg nor the beautiful nature of Malick to create the right mood. This was the first time, a film became true applause, in the sneak preview at my favourite cinema in Berlin. Nothing more to tell - everybody should see it.

Good intentions, but PLEASE stick to the book

[ladwash · 10 July 2000]

There are books and films. Two different ways of telling a story. Sometimes films are based on books. In that case one does good by not concentrating on the book and see the film as an independent work of art. Barthes already proclaimed 'the death of the writer', the discourse is not a message of the writer. But sometimes it's impossible to ignore the writers' work and his message. This is the case with one of this centuries' most important writers, Primo Levi. He didn't just write books, but was able to put in words his very own experiences in the German Lagers and this way put it in a much broader sense, he wrote history.

Many years before, Rosi had succesfully filmed 'christ stopped at Eboli', which was also based on an autobiography (Carlo Levi, not related to Primo) of the fascist period. Rosi did well not to choose Primo Levi's 'if this is a man' (se questo e un uomo), which describes the unimaginable experiences of Levi in the German Lager, he chose what could be called its' 'sequel'. 'the truce' ('la tregua') in which Levi describes his journey home from the camp in Poland to Turin, Italy, which took him an absurd nine months.The film starts when killingfactory Auschwitz-Birkenau is liberated by the Russians and the survivors are freed and put in trains, not to go home directly, but to be send to other camps. From there the journey continues, by train, by foot, meeting various characters. Levi, played by John Torturro, is a silent man who now and then expresses wise words or memorable sentences, but somehow never really makes you think. It's a man we follow, but doesn't touch us, let alone move us. This is not Turturro's fault, he gives a fairly good performance, but Rosi wants too much tell an important story, forgetting the ones who ARE the story; namely the characters. None of them is very well worked out. Take the Greek Nahum, in the book a surpising, colourful person, here just one-dimensional. Symbolism is overly present; Levi who doesn't want to throw away his campjacket, 'to remember' is credible, but the survivors are faced with german prisoners twice and it's given an unconvincing weight, as one German throws himself on his knees, when he sees Levi and his yellow star of David, far too grotesque. Another unconvincing role is given to the music, it's overly present, even a violin is stolen (where Rosi had this idea from is very unclear??) for no good reason. Music should be on the background.

I am sure Rosi had good intentions, but sometimes it's better to read and reread a book and try to reach as many people as possible in that way.

**out of ***** If this is a man (se questo e un uomo)-primo Levi The truce (La tregua) - Primo levi The saved and the drowned (I sommersi e i salvati)-Primo levi

The Long (and Boring) Return Home

[claudio_carvalho · 5/10 · 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")

I love it!!

[cdvoice415 · 10/10 · 9 January 2004]

A wonderful movie about the concentration camp prisoner's lives after war2. A story about how can a men became himself after his soul was crush by the torture in the concentration camp . It's powerful ,moving and touching!

just plain boring

[Willi_W · 2/10 · 31 March 1999]

Dealing with a subject as difficult & important as this one, and then having almost nothing to say beyond blatant common-place quotes that really say nothing, coupled with being just "too slowly moving" as another comment already said.... I remember the most often overheard quote after watching this movie was: "I'd hoped there would be -something- of importance still to come..." These loosely coupled scenes from a long odyssey home definitely don't do that matter any good -- the whole thing just bored me.

Could've been better

[meliajanssen · 6 May 2003]

I watched this during the Liberation Day weekend along with 4 other Holocaust-themed movies so it was a bit of a challenge. The movie was good enough but the dialogue was rather chaotic. You had the Russians speaking Russian and the Germans screaming their heads off in German but how is it that the central Italian characters spoke English? I was in Rome recently and I must say they are very seriously inadequate in English there and I doubt it was any different especially in WWII. I could understand if the lead character and the Greek spoke in English but the other Italian characters all spoke English too. Perhaps it was necessary to reach a wider audience but the authenticity wasn't there. However, the movie did show subtle signs of the various myths of the Holocaust like when Primo Levi (John Turturro) tried to sell his wares in the Polish market but was shunned against; I had heard that the Poles practically handed the Jews to the Germans on a silver plate so Primo's experience showed a little of what the Poles were really like. I thought John Turturro did a brilliant job; he was almost unrecognisable. This movie did show how it was like after the fall of Berlin; the German soldiers were made to work without food and how one of them fell on his knees when Primo Levi showed his concentration camp uniform to him. It showed very subtle signs of the Holocaust but focused more on their journey home and how they tried to cope with their newfound freedom and the fact that their peers, friends and family were all gased and they survived. It was a good movie but it could've been better.

the kuritza

[jomotta · 10/10 · 18 May 2002]

the kuritza episode worths the movie, alone. its funny, it's hilarious and you rofl a lot. movie strolls around weird situations that could be or not taken as real. not important. the important thing is the healthy humour and fresh upwards link to life that the movie shows. john turturro's kuritza was well deserved. great artist he is.

Decent Film

[stamatikokotas · 3/10 · 17 February 2011]

I watched a copy of The Truce on VHS last night my mom bought it for like a doller some years ago at some video store that was going out of business. I poped it in because of my interest in films portraed during the world war two era. I figured since i saw the American actor from do the right thing (john turturro)on the cover, as the star actor that he was going to be portraying an native Italian, speaking English and i was right.Had john turturro been speaking Italian. At least to to his fellow italians this film would have been more memorable. I gave this film 3 stars for the part where it shows the Greek guy going back to his country first.And telling john turturro and the other italians that he was getting beter treatment because his country was in the united nations and that john turturro and his Italian people's had lost the war.The Greek Greek guy's character was entertaining. the story wasn't bad. I liked that map of all the direction that john turturro took. that they showed at the end. OK the Title. "The Truce" I can not pin point why this movie is called The Truce. I'm guessing because of the personall relationships john turturro has with people while he is trying to get back to italy. But it is not clear their is no clear "truce" portrayed. The part where he see's the German solder in munich and then the German soldier see's him and then the German soldier get's on his knee's and bow's to john turturro. Did that actually Happen? Anyway all i can say is i watched the whole thing.it's not that bad. it's not that good either.

It's not that bad!

[maggietom · 10/10 · 5 November 2005]

I like it because it offered me something which is different from the movies on the Second World war. The movies we have seen such as the Pianist, Schindler's list, Gloomy Sunday and so on, they are about the concentration camp themselves, but this one, depicts from another angle, after the victory, what happened to the Nazi's victims, how did they get home, just buy a ticket and hop on a train? No, I'm very much impressed by the route map in the movie. I like the guy starred by John Turturro(also stars in Oh, Brother, where art thou), he is a very philosophical guy, the reason why he did not get the same attention as Adrain Brody in the Pianist is because he did not suffer as much, some people don't buy it, I don't mean to say Adrain is not good, he is, but what makes me feel sorry is that he seems not living up to his Best Actor given by Oscar since he offered us not good performance after the pianist. Anyway, I think The Truce is not a bad one, and I suggest those seeking different things to have a try.

Overly staged -- unrealistic

[Pro Jury · 3/10 · 15 August 2008]

*** May contain spoilers. ***

A Jew escaping Germany and there is no sense of danger. No suspense. No drama. Very little to impress. Because most every moment is presented as if a Broadway stage play with low realism, it is difficult to take this movie all that seriously. Hats are thrown knowing that a stage hand will gather it for the next take. An undocumented war refugee enters deep into a private home without bothering to wait for the home owner to answer the door. People stand up together instantly in the middle of a song as if rehearsed. Fireworks and a large crowd comes quickly from nowhere for a surprise party. There must be better movies out there covering the same subject matter.

Life's bricks

[Vincentiu · 21 January 2007]

The novel of Primo Levi is only pretext for build a strange parable. The spirit or the essence of book are absent in this cruel Odyssey. It is not a story about hope or freedom. It is not a moral lesson or image of old tragedy. It is not a movie, but only a trip in the past shadows essence. In many aspects, it is another Radu Mihailescu's "Train de vie". But the message is more harsh and hopeless. The war and the return to home are fruits of ambiguous nostalgia but their crux is always chimera. The land, the life, the words are more different and the old places are elements of "Tystnaden".

The fundamental value of film is art of suggestion. The tale of returning is message for survivors of crisis or victims of expectation. in fact, the illusions are life's bricks.