Having focused on post-war Italy in "The Bicycle Thief", Vittorio DeSica focused on the war - and many years later - in "I girasoli" ("Sunflower" in English"). I had never known about the Italian contingent that fought the Soviet Union, so that part was certainly new to me, and I thought that Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni did well in their roles. I don't know whether or not I would recommend the movie for any kind of class. As it was, the DVD kept skipping over scenes, so I may have missed important parts of the film. Overall, I don't know specifically whether I would call this a really good movie or just an OK one. I didn't find it sappy, if that's the problem that some people have with the film.
Whatever the case, I consider the movie worth seeing, if only once.
Whatever the case, I consider the movie worth seeing, if only once.