I’m curious about Miracle at Santa Anna, the Spike Lee movie in theatres September 26. The movie tells the story of four African-American Buffalo Soldiers from the all black 92nd Infantry Division, during the Italian Campaign in World War II. The soldiers get trapped near a small Tuscan village after one of them risks his life to save an Italian boy.
The story is based in part on the August 1944 Sant’Anna di Stazzema massacre, where 560 villagers and refugees were murdered by retreating SS forces.
I’m interested in this movie because I saw the trailer when I went to see the Dark Knight. I read the book and enjoyed it as well. I’m curious as to how the story will play out onscreen. Also, it’s not often a war movie comes along that focuses on the African-American troops. I’m not a big fan of war movies in general (the only war-themed films I ever liked are Tora, Tora, Tora, Glory, and Saving Private Ryan), but I will definitely check this one out.
I am a WWII history buff and am also curious about this film. Though I don’t know how it will be, I’m especially excited because not only am I interested in the movie as a World War II slice of life. But because as a Christian, I am always curious as to how spirituality and human psychology will play out. Great films seem to deal with these issues very well. I’ve read a little about the plot and saw the trailer and am kind of excited.
As an aside, the 92nd Infantry Division (Buffalo Soldiers) was one of two black infantry divisions (the other was the 93rd. The 92nd served in Italy. The division was not terribly successful at first through no fault of its soldiers, though . The army neglected their training and like many other african-american units were treated shabbily.
The 93rd served in the Pacific. If I recall correctly, the 93rd saw some action as a unit but was dispersed.
There are many decorated African-American vets from WWII and probably many more who didn’t receive earned decorations due to racism.
There were numerous other units ie. Tuskegee airmen, 761st tank battalion, 555 airborne, Red Ball Express, and they were present on D-Day and all other major battles, despite what film seems to show.
THIS MOVIE REALLY APPEARS TO BE AN OUTSTANDING WORK OF “SPIKE LEE’S”!!! I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IT! ALSO THE ACTOR LINE-UP LOOKS VERY INTERESTING AS WELL! I LIKE WHEN DIRECTORS USE ACTORS THAT ARE GOOD AT THEIR CRAFT BUT WHOSE NAMES ARE NOT THAT WELL KNOWN! THIS TACTIC SEEMS TO PUT THEM ON THE MAP AND THEY ADD SURPRISES TO THEIR ACTING ABILITY THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT WERE THERE! A MUST SEE!!!
lets get real. spike lee is a horrible film maker and a horrible racist person.
If you don’t like Spike Lee’s movies, then you’re free to watch any other movie you’d like. Perhaps “Birth Of A Nation” is more to your liking.
I am glad that Spike Lee is doing a movie featuring the African American soldiers, the book was a great read, and I’m sure the movie will be appreciated by those who value history. Great job, Spike, keep it up. I hope you might do one about the first African American women soldiers to deploy overseas during WWII, the 6888th Postal Battalion.
I just saw the movie and it was great–bring tissues. And i commend spike lee for telling the story of african-Americans fighting in WWII, I, also, would like to thank everyone for dedicating their lives for freedom. I do not condone or support fighting or like seeing war movies but please see this movie. And please people respect each other because we are all the same— human beings.
I plan on seeing the movie Tuesday. I wanted to go Saturday or Sunday, but I work. I end up seeing movies on weekdays.
In the future, I’d also like to see movies made about the Tuskeegee Airman, and the contributions of women (such as Women Airforce Service Pilots), and Japanese-Americans.
Perhaps because the “RAI” (Radio Televisione Italiana) was involved in this production, the original lenguage is keept in every caracther of the movie, like it is supposed to be….the italians speak Italian, the germans speek german, and the U.S soldiers speak english, with the exception of Alonso who play an American/Puertorican black soldier (BTW his Puertorican spanish is exceptional well done), as well his Italian, which is very remarkable, far away form most of the “Hollywood Movies” in which a Polish Jew during war magically speaks “english”…..or a german soldier speaks like the next guy from In and Out Burger….
I am not a Spike Lee big fan, but I have to admit that he did a great job in this one; the soundtrack was week during almost all the movie, but it got better at the end. The massacre scene was very hard to take, but that is what happened, and must to be presented to understand that some humans are just “brutal beasts”.
I think the movie was pretty good (if I had to grade it, I’d say a B). I had issues with the editing (too long in some parts), and (as you said) the soundtrack. Despite being so accustomed to seeing violence (on TV and in the movies), it was hard to keep my eyes on the screen during the massacre. The knowledge that people were actually slaughtered in this manner is hard to take. The fact that brutality like this still happens hurts even more. It was also hard to think about the fact that African-American soliders were dying for freedoms they weren’t truly able to enjoy. It was especially sickening to see German prisoners treated with more respect.
After the movie, I did some additional reading about the actual Sant’Anna di Stazzema massacre, and found it is still a very painful topic for dicussion. If anything, I hope movies like this spark more interest (in younger people especially) in the history of WWII. There are so many topics that we are just beginning to talk about. We’re losing this generation of WWII vets rapidly, and it would be terrible to let all those different stories and experiences go untold.
//This was one of the best movies I have ever seen. Congratulations, Spike Lee!!!