Search - Giuseppe in Warsaw (Giuseppe w Warszawie) on DVD

The film is excellent at balancing chilling scenes of Nazi o

Richard J. Brzostek | New England, USA | 05/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Giuseppe in Warsaw" is a very funny comedy set during the Second World War. From its opening scene to its end, it sparks interest with its presentation, story, and music. It is filmed in black and white, which ads an element that helps brings the viewer back in time.

Giuseppe (Antonio Cifariello) is an Italian returning from the Russian front. He gets separated from his fellow soldiers when his train is attacked and finds himself in Poland. There are many funny parts in the film because of the language issues Giuseppe has. His allies speak German while the local people speak Polish, and his native language is Italian (all three are actually spoken in the movie).

Giuseppe meets Maria (Elzbieta Czyzewska), a pretty blond woman, in Warsaw when they help each other out of a jam. Maria has trouble getting rid of Giuseppe after their encounter and he follows her to her home. Maria happens to be a resistance fighter that does all she can to help fight the Nazis. She shares her apartment with her brother Staszek (Zbigniew Cybulski), who aspires to be an artist and have nothing to do with the war. The interplay between the three is quite funny.

Although the "Giuseppe in Warsaw" is about a dismal time period, it is respectful of the seriousness of the war, yet manages to be very funny without being goofy or silly. The film is excellent at balancing chilling scenes of Nazi occupied Poland with great situational humor. "Giuseppe in Warsaw" is a great comedy and has humor that stands the test of time.
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