The Cossacks (Italian: I cosacchi) is a 1960 Italian epic adventure film directed by Victor Tourjansky and Giorgio Rivalta and starring Edmund Purdom, John Drew Barrymore and Giorgia Moll.[1][2]
The movie centers around Shamil, who is determined to go to war for the freedom of his people, while his son is caught between his old family loyalties and the realization that his father's nation requires peace.[3] The film offers a nuanced depiction of both sides, displaying a level of sensitivity that is unexpected in this type of movie. In a particularly impactful scene, the Chechen artillery bombards the Russian army's camp while the soldiers are in the middle of mass celebration.[3] The movie provides a unique perspective on an uncommon subject matter and showcases a rare humanity and sense of impartiality towards the different sides involved in the conflict portrayed in the story.[3]