The Great War

The Great War

Year: 1959

Runtime: 137 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Mario Monicelli

WarComedyDrama

Italy, 1916. Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca are called, as all the Italian youths, to serve the army in the WWI. They both try in every way to avoid serving the army.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Great War (1959)

Trace every key event in The Great War (1959) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

First meeting and deceit in the military district

Oreste Jacovacci arranges a deal to bribe Giovanni Busacca to dodge conscription, promising help in exchange for money. Giovanni is wary but the ploy sets the stage for a fraught but growing alliance. The encounter marks the start of a bond between two men who care little for ideals but want to survive the war.

1916 military district
2

Reunion on the train to the front

They meet again on the way to the front, and their initial anger gives way to a reluctant sympathy. Their bond deepens as they realize they share a pragmatic streak and a common reluctance toward danger. The train ride cements their unlikely friendship.

1916 train to the front
3

Training, fighting, and rare leaves

They endure relentless training and the brutal realities of combat, interspersed with brief, infrequent leaves. The two men discover they lack any guiding ideals, relying on each other to weather the war's pressures. The camaraderie grows amid the chaos of the front.

1916-1917 Italian front line
4

Caporetto defeat

They witness Italy's crushing defeat at Caporetto, a chaotic episode that unsettles everyone around them. The retreat and confusion sharpen their awareness of their own fragility and the precarious nature of their survival. The experience irreversibly alters their outlook on war.

1917 Caporetto front
5

Relays mission: entrusted as relay runners

The day after Caporetto, they are assigned as relay runners, a dangerous role given they are labeled the 'least efficient' troops. They must move under fire and through exposed lines, testing their nerve and loyalty. This assignment tightens the bond between them as they push forward together.

late 1917 front line relay route
6

Overnight rest and sudden frontline intrusion

After completing the relay mission, they sleep in the stable of an outpost near the front line. A rapid Austrian advance thrusts them behind enemy lines and into a perilous predicament. The serenity of night shatters as they scramble to escape.

night after relay outpost stable near front line
7

Capture and accusation of espionage

Captured by Austrian forces, they are accused of espionage and threatened with firing squad. Fear and confusion mount as they realize their lives hinge on a desperate pivot of courage and self-preservation. Their fate hangs in the balance as interrogations begin.

immediate after capture enemy territory near front
8

Accidental disclosure and the choice to stay silent

Oreste inadvertently reveals that they possess crucial information about Italy's counterattack on the Piave. To survive, they both decide to pretend they know nothing and clamp down on any potentially helpful truth. The arrogance of the Austrian officer and the Italians' contempt paradoxically harden their resolve to withhold what they know.

during interrogation Austrian captivity
9

The insult and the resolve to remain silent

Giovanni openly insults the Austrian officer, while Oreste asserts he is unaware of the information. The confrontation crystallizes their determination to keep the information secret, sealing their fate. Their moral stance under pressure becomes a quiet act of defiance.

during captivity interrogation scene
10

Execution

As the confrontation reaches its peak, Oreste is shot, his loyalty and sacrifice exposed in a single, brutal moment. Giovanni survives the encounter, though he bears the weight of their shared decision to stay silent. The act foreshadows the costs paid by those who choose honor over self-preservation.

moments after capture execution site
11

End of the battle and a captain's misperception

The battle at the Piave front ends with an Italian victory and the reconquest of the position. Their captain, unaware of their sacrifice, comments approvingly about their supposed clever escape. The victory is felt on the battlefield, but the true cost remains hidden from their commander.

end of battle Piave front
12

Closing scene: memory and oblivion

In the final moments, the film hints at the soldiers' sacrifice being unknown to those who count victories. The captain's misperception underlines the tragedy of silent heroism in war. The story closes with a somber reflection on what is seen and what is left unsaid.

end of film Italian camp

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 08:25

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