The Profession of Arms

(2001)Directed by Ermanno Olmi105 minDrama, History, War

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.

Christo Jivkovas Giovanni De' Medici
Sergio Grammaticoas Federico II Gonzaga
Dimitar Ratchkovas Lucantonio Cuppano
Fabio Giubbanias Matteo Cusastro
Saša Vulićevićas Pietro Aretino
Desislava Tenekedjievaas Caterina De' Medici
Sandra Ceccarellias Nobildonna di Mantova
Aldo Toscanoas Aloisio Gonzaga
Franco Palmierias Paolo Giovio
Franco Andreanias Ambasciatore di Carlo V
Kalin Arsovas Barcarolo
Giancarlo Belellias Alfonso d'Este
Bruno Bendonias Benedetto Agnello
Silvio Cappellinias Maestro Habram
Vittorio Corcellias Frate domenicano
Marco De Biagias Ercole d'Este
Alessandro Genovesias Ufficiale posto di guardia
Michael Aaron Lindneras Sottufficiale alemanno
Francesca Lonardellias Cortigiana
Paolo Magagnaas Francesco Maria della Rovere
Piergiorgio Malettias Servitore particolare di Federico Gonzaga
Mauro Maranias Marito della cortigiana
Georgy Marinoas Staffiere
Ilija Marshakovas Prete