Mediterraneo (1991) review

Italian soldiers, including high school teacher Lt. Montini (Claudio Bigagli), his attendant Pvt. Farina (Giuseppe Cederna), jaded Sgt. Lo Russo (Diego Abatantuono) and quirky Pvt. Strazzabosco (Luigi Alberti) who has a pet donkey named Silvana, go to the seemingly abandoned Greek island of Megísti during World War II where they're initially fearful of an attack by the English troops but then get preoccupied with their own interests - soon, the real residents emerge, and the men take turns with the local prostitute Vasilissa (Vana Barba).  The scenery is absolutely lovely and it's kind of a breezy viewing, except (as others have noted) it does "skirt around" the uncomfortable topic of Italy's Fascist history, pretending like they're all just a bunch of slightly doltish fellows when in reality it was quite a bit different than that - it's also alarming that only one female character is allowed to have any dialogue (and she's a sex worker who becomes "domesticated").  Apparently both Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel walked out of a private screening with the former believing it was "without redeeming merit," but I'll give it the slightest benefit of the doubt and say although it's ignorant, I don't believe it to be intentionally malicious.