Renowned filmmaker Roberto Minervini, celebrated for his intimate and evocative storytelling in films such as Stop the Pounding Heart and What You Gonna Do When the World’s On Fire?, takes a daring departure in his latest project. The Damned, which won the prestigious Un Certain Regard Best Director award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, delves into the American Civil War, offering a stark look at a group of volunteer soldiers sent to the western frontier. The film, which will be released by Grasshopper Film starting May 16, has just unveiled its first trailer.
Set in the winter of 1862, The Damned follows the US Army’s deployment of a company of volunteer soldiers to patrol the uncharted western territories during the Civil War. However, as the soldiers’ mission evolves, the true purpose behind their engagement becomes increasingly unclear.
Critics have praised the film for its portrayal of the human side of war. In his review, Jake Kring-Schreifels noted that while The Damned occasionally resembles a reenactment, Minervini masterfully highlights the aimless priorities of war, particularly for its marginalized participants. The Italian director, who has made the United States his home for over two decades, has a history of blending documentary and narrative forms. In previous works like Stop Pounding the Heart and What You Gonna Do When the World’s On Fire?, Minervini has captured the often-overlooked lives of ordinary people through the use of non-professional actors, which adds an air of authenticity to his films. His approach continues in The Damned, where the tension between fiction and reality reveals deeper truths about the human experience, shaped by the landscapes and conditions surrounding them.
The film’s exploration of historical and emotional landscapes offers a poignant reflection on the forgotten narratives of war, inviting audiences to reconsider the often-overlooked impact of conflict on its least heralded participants.
