The Profession of Arms (2001 film)

The Profession of Arms (Il mestiere delle armi) is a 2001 Italian film directed by Ermanno Olmi.

Plot
In autumn of 1526, Emperor Charles V sends his German landsknechts led by Georg von Frundsberg to march towards Rome. The inferior papal armies, commanded by Giovanni de' Medici, try to chase them in the midst of a harsh winter. Nevertheless, the Imperial armies manage to cross the rivers along their march and get cannons thanks to the maneuvers of its Lords.

In a skirmish, Giovanni de' Medici is wounded in the leg by a falconet shot. The attempts to cure him fail and he dies. The Imperial armies assault Rome.

The film is beautifully but unassumingly set, and shows the hard conditions in which war is waged and its lack of glory. It ends straightforwardly with the declaration made after the death of Giovanni de' Medici by the commanders of the armies in Europe of ceasing to use firearms because of their cruelty.

Cast

 * Hristo Zhivkov - Giovanni de Medici
 * Sergio Grammatico - Federico Gonzaga
 * Dimitar Rachkov - Luc'Antonio Cuppano
 * Fabio Giubbani - Matteo Cusastro
 * Sasa Vulicevic - Pietro Aretino
 * Desislava Tenekedjieva - Maria Salviati de Medici
 * Sandra Ceccarelli - Nobildonna di Mantova
 * Franco Andreani - Ambasciatore di Carlo V

Awards

 * 9 David di Donatello Awards (Best Film - Best Director: Ermanno Olmi - Best Screenplay: Ermanno Olmi - Best Producer: Luigi Musini, Roberto Cicutto and Ermanno Olmi - Best Production Design: Luigi Marchione - Best Cinematography: Fabio Olmi - Best Costume Design: Francesca Sartori - Best Editing: Paolo Cottignola - Best Music: Fabio Vacchi)
 * 3 Nastro d'Argento Prizes (Best Production Design: Luigi Marchione - Best Cinematography: Fabio Olmi - Best Costume Design: Francesca Sartori)
 * Palme d'Or (nominated) - 2001 Cannes Film Festival