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Cast
Christo Jivkov
as Giovanni De' Medici
Sergio Grammatico
as Federico II Gonzaga
Dimitar Ratchkov
as Lucantonio Cuppano
Fabio Giubbani
as Matteo Cusastro
Saša Vulićević
as Pietro Aretino
Desislava Tenekedjieva
as Caterina De' Medici
Sandra Ceccarelli
as Nobildonna di Mantova
Aldo Toscano
as Aloisio Gonzaga
Franco Palmieri
as Paolo Giovio
Franco Andreani
as Ambasciatore di Carlo V
Movie Info & Details
Release Year2001
Runtime1h 45m
LanguageGerman
CertificationNR
GenresDrama, History, War
Votes58
DirectorErmanno Olmi
WritersErmanno Olmi
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.7 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsThe Profession of Arms
About The Profession of Arms
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.
Directed by Ermanno Olmi, The Profession of Arms leans on a strong ensemble — Christo Jivkov, Sergio Grammatico, Dimitar Ratchkov — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2001.
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