The Desert of the Tartars

The Desert of the Tartars is an Italian and French 1976 co-production that plunges its audience into an allegorical tale of existential bewilderment, framed as an intense military drama. Directed by Valerio Zurlini, the film boasts a remarkable international cast led by Jacques Perrin, supported by Italian cinema landmarks Vittorio Gassman and Giuliano Gemma, among other featured talents.

The film's narrative is based on the 1940 novel by Dino Buzzati, translated to English as 'The Tartar Steppe.' It spins the yarn of Lieutenant Giovanni Drogo's military career and life, played with exceptional subtlety by Jacques Perrin. After his graduation from the military academy, Drogo arrives at Bastiani Fortress, an aging, isolated outpost flanked by the vast and inhospitable desert, presumably awaiting an invasion from the mysterious, mythical Tartars.

Vittorio Gassman plays the role of Major Mattis, assigning Drogo on his arrival to his long-awaiting duty, riddled in its uncertainty. Giuliano Gemma appears as the loyal Captain Bellina, showing the strings of devotion to the fortress. Throughout the film, each character bears his burden of apprehension and loneliness, reflecting the looming existential dread pervading the fortress, their stories unfolding amid the desolate ambiance of their hauntingly beautiful surroundings.

As the narrative slowly unwinds, the young officer hopes of earning glory and recognition gradually turn into an unrealized dream that extends into decades, subtly capturing the cruelty of time and ambitions unfulfilled. However, the film masterfully sidesteps trite sentimentality, presenting these grand themes with a starkly sober and clear-eyed perspective. Another focal, and undoubtedly central character, is the fortress itself, sprawling, eerie, and imposing. With its silent, vast, and lifeless desert, it mirrors the anxiety and absurdity of the waiting soldiers' lives.

While the premise harks back to classic war films, The Desert of the Tartars deftly sidesteps overtly epic showdowns or heroic conquests, instead delving into the existential depths of the human condition and the indomitable passage of time. The looming attack never defines the storyline, but mirrors the overarching theme of anxiety and existential dread. Here, Zurlini navigates the complex undercurrents of anticipation, fear, longing, and surrender that characterize Drogo's lifetime of waiting, dissecting the paradox of military life between action-crammed interludes and long periods of inaction defined by wearisome waiting.

Across the film, technical and artistic merits combine to impressive effect. Visually, the film is undeniably stunning. Set against a backdrop of meticulously detailed decaying fortress and the starkly beautiful, endless desert landscapes, Zurlini captures a sense of alienation and the relentless passage of time. Luciano Tovoli's cinematography gives the viewer a jarring, spectral atmosphere that perfectly aligns with the characters' interior landscapes. The harmonious blending of the intense physical environment with the bleak palette and the subtly moody musical score by Ennio Morricone amplifies the film's thematic depth and atmospheric qualities.

A masterclass in existential filmmaking, The Desert of the Tartars brilliantly showcases Zurlini's phenomenal directorial prowess as he tackles themes of solitude, regret, and existential dread. Its rhythm is profoundly unsettling, matching the torturous monotony and passion of waiting. Jacques Perrin delivers a particularly sympathetic performance, removing layers of naivety from his character, revealing the existential despair boiling beneath.

The Desert of the Tartars is not simply a war film; it is an introspective analysis of time, loneliness, and existential insecurity. It subtly hints at the absurdity of life defined by endless waiting and thwarted ambitions, essentially exploring the human condition's labyrinth. However, in its languid yet evocative storytelling and its exceptional aesthetics, the film serves as a captivating exploration and a solidly immersive viewing experience.