As sometimes happens, the title on the packaging does not entirely match its contents. A good part of the film does cover the daily activities of the askaris stationed in Libya (chatting, stirring a pot, shaving their hair). The more adventurous scenes (including a nude on a horse), however, are of Italians, who flaunt their athletic dexterity in the high jump and military efficiency in lighting fires. The original reel also includes some random footage: horsemen of the Royal Italian Army performing impressive feats in a vast grassy landscape that does not look anything like our idea of Libya. We decided not to edit this bizarre sequence.

Andrea Meneghelli