The Profession of Arms

A stark, unhurried chronicle of winter campaigning that strips war of glory and leaves a quiet sense of futility.

Directed by

Ermanno Olmi

Genres

Drama, History, War

Starring

Christo Jivkov, Sergio Grammatico, Dimitar Ratchkov

Overview

In autumn of 1526, the Emperor, Charles V, sends his German landsknechts led by Georg von Frundsberg to march towards Rome. The inferior papal armies, commanded by Giovanni de'Medici, try to chase them in the midst of a harsh winter. Nevertheless, the Imperial armies manage to cross the rivers along their march and get cannons thanks to the maneuvers of its Lords. In a skirmish, Giovanni de'Medici is wounded in the leg by a falconet shot. The attempts to cure him fail and he dies. The Imperial armies assault Rome. The film is beautifully but unassumingly set, and shows the hard conditions in which war is waged and its lack of glory. It ends straightforwardly with the declaration made after the death of Giovanni de'Medici by the commanders of the armies in Europe of not using again fire weapons because of their cruelty.

How it feels

Bleak, melancholic, earnest and tense. Slow-burning and demanding.

About

War, death, survival, power

Content

Mild violence and gore. No sexual content or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)