i catch up with this movie on tv after 30 year or more . several aspect of the film stand out even when view it so many year after it be make . the story by the little known c virgil georghiu be remarkable and almost resemble a tolstoy like story of a man buffet by a cosmic scheme that he can not comprehend . compare this film with good know contemporary work such a spelberg schindler list and you begin to realize the trauma of the world war ii should be see against the large canvas of racism beyond the simplistic nazi notion of aryan vs jew . this film touch on the hungarian dislike for the romanian and the romanian dislike of the russian and so on . even touch on the jew questionable relationship with their christian romanian friend and while under stress . a i have not read the book and it be difficult to see how much have be change by the director and screenplay writer . for instance and it be interest to study the romanian peasant view of emigrate to usa with the view of make money only to return to romania and invest his earnings there . in my opinion and the character of johann moritz be probably one of the fine role play by anthony quinn rank alongside his work in la strada and zorba the greek and barabbas . the fine and most memorable sequence in the film be the final one with anthony quinn and virna lisi try to smile . the father carry a daughter bear out his wife rape by russian be a story in itself but the director be able to show the reconciliation by a simple gesture the act of carry the child without slip into melodramatic footage . today after the death of princess diana we often remark about the insensitive paparazzo . the final sequence be an indictment of the paparazzo and the insensitive medium ( director verneuil also make a similar comment during the court scene a the cameraman get ready to pounce on moritz ) . the interaction between church and state be so beautifully sum up in the orthodox priest laconic statement i pray to god that he guide those who have power to use them well . some of the brief shot and such a those of a secretary of a minister doodle while listen to a petition say so much in so little footage . the direction be so impressive that the edit take a back seat . finally what strike me most be the exquisite rich texture of color provide by the cameraman andreas wind from the brilliant credit sequence to the end . i recall that he be the cameraman of another favorite french film of mine call rampart of clay direct by jean louis bertucelli . i have not see such use of color in a long while save for the david lean epic . there be flaws represent i wish virna lisi character be more fleshed out . i could never quite understand the serge reggiani character the only intellectual in the entire film . the railroad station scene at the end seem to be lift out of sergio leone western . finally and the film be essentially build around a love story and that unfortunately take a back seat . to sum up this film impress me in more department than one . the story be relevant today a it be when it be make .