H.M. Deserters

A decent comedy from the last year of the First World War, which depicts decaying conditions in remote barracks with ridiculous soldiers, an understanding and rational commander, pedantic non-commissioned officers, and one limited, sadistic officer who tries to re-educate the crew. I was a little bothered that it was that kind of overly good-natured humor similar to what is practiced in modern comedies in Eastern Europe. It needed more venomous sarcasm and should not have been afraid to show the horrors of war to its full extent. It is a war film where no one dies. And that's a bit false. Overall impression: 60%. (08/01/2009)