Well it is quite normal that an Association of Partisans criticized the movie, after all they have a direct interest in that matter and their duty is to protect their members' interests rather than looking for historical truth.In Italy one-side versions of history, recent or old, are rather the norm

Carmine Colacino, Potenza, Italy

I'm fairly certain the reason black soldiers appear so rarely in American WW2 films is because they were mostly restricted to support/logistics duties until the Executive Order 9981 made by President Truman in 1948. Seems a tad more plausible than all war film directors being racist.

Ruairi Maxwell, London, UK

I'm waiting for Lee to re-tell European history by having flanks of black archers at Agincourt and all Black fighter squadrons in the Battle of Britain.

A Thorn, London,

I think there is confusion between McBride and Lee; one says the story is fiction and the other seems to defend it as fact. Either the film is a reconstruction of actual events in which case it should be historically accurate, or it is pure fiction. I can see how the Italians are offended.

rebecca cook, kettering, uk

well done Spike. The man has generated more PR than he would be prepared to pay for.

Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story, hollywood doesn't.

sanja, london, UK

It is not the first american movie which talk about history introducing wrong facts. I remember one about the discovering of radio by american during the WW2 . But Radio was discovered by Brits. Or the movie "the patriot" where american beat english by themself and french just come at the end.

Marc, Paris, France

Some Italian historians (even some leftish!), have tried to tell the thruth: it's impossible unless you want to be seen as fascist. As Italian I am glad to Spike Lee. After 60 years of lies, it's high time to read the history as it really was: without fears, and no blackmail.

Lisa, Milan, Italy

Hehehehe.... Where is Clint Eastwood when you most need him to tell Spikey that he left some Asian Americans from 100th Nisei Battalion in his new film? :-)

Frederik, US expat, Europe,

Never expect Hollywood to tell the truth (or even to recognise it exists). It's all about money and Oscars for them.

Ian, London, UK

Hollywood never lets the truth get in the way of a "good" story!

John Ghering, Franklin, USA

The reason Spike Lee's movies never make much money is because he always seeks controversy and not necessarily accuracy. That said he remains a talented director , but I just don't think his combative attitude is useful to him or others as not everything has to be a fight. I'll still see his movie

mounir, Casablanca, Morocco

"This film is our interpretation", so often used by Hollywood when making money is more important than truth

Garryq, London , UK

All you people saying Spike Lee's movies are useless are wrong! I have one and when we have visitors who are starting to have lead in their pants, I suggest, "Hey! Have you seen my Spike Lee movie?

Some manage 10 minutes or so, but then they yawn and "really have to go".

Thanks Spike.

Rod Baker, Cape Town, South Africa

Clint Eastwood portrayed as much truth as he could in his films.It didn´t fit Spike Lees racist agenda so he makes one with few truths. He could have made one about Ben Davis & the Tuskegee airmen with more truth to make all Americans proud, except the white racists of course.Bad choice Spike.

Mike Burkinshaw, Vilagarcía de Arousa, Galicia/Spain

Spike Lee is one of the world's great historians, with a long and well-respected record of research and scholarship. How dare anyone criticize him, just because several of the eyewitnesses almost every other hostorian has a different interpretation of events?

Mark, Story City, USA

Where is the real problem here other than certain Italians not wanting to acknowledge sorry part of their history. The massacre was an atrocity. Now who believes that the Germans just killed these innocents without any reason and who believes they did so as revenge against the partisans.

Nat, Lisle,

Fancy that. A piece of WWII revisionism emanating from the US? Who would have thought it?

It's not fiction if people perceive it as fact......

Lloyd Berkshire-Hunt, London, UK

Very simple: the italian communist party has been using the political capital gained by sanctifying "its" partisans for decades, even though in often the "reds" were little more than political death squads, no better than the fascists, and anyone that speaks against this gospel is branded a fascist

Pietro B, SP, Italy

Jon K of South whatever, what genocide are you referring to the one perpetrated by English settlers in America or Spanish conquistadors in south America. If we had a genocide in the USA it was not very successful as there are over 10 million native Americans in the lower 48. A typical Brit.

TZAZ, Gilbert, AZ, USA

Spike Lee distorting history? Imagine that!! He finally found something depicting the fact that a few Black soldiers played some role in WWII. Now he can send the film to Eastwood and say, "See, I told you so." Congrats Spike.

Stormbringer, Turlock, USA

"The history of World War II here in Italy is ours as well". True, but Spike Lee should have known that the Resistance is still a very delicate topic in Italy. There are already too many nuances in that sad page of Italy's history, there is no more space for new controversies.

andrea, London, UK

Itallians like the French have selective memory when it comes to ww2. The French dont like the remember the fact it was FRENCH NAZIES who rounded up french jews and handed them over to the Germans. Dont like to remember the Vichy etc. Italians appear to have the same gaps in their memories.

Jorge, las Vegas, NV, USA

Mr Lee took exception to Eastwood's films for not showing black soldiers. Eastwood was pretty miffed and pointed out that, historically, black soldiers had not been involved in the action he was presenting.

Perhaps historical accuracy is less important to Mr Lee than making a political point.

Melissa, London,

I don't understand why they don't want to recognize these atrocities happened bc they stopped in this village. I don't blame them for that (the guilts are the nazis). But the same thing happened in France (in Oradour-sur-Glane, in Maillé) and the Resistants never deny that the massacre was reprisals

François, Saint-Malo, France

I think it's a pretty good film. It's touching and thoughtful and humorous.

Robert, San Francisco, USA

european this is fiction,spikes account, like the holy bible which was king james verision. its not literally true just there version. ( peace) or (islam)....

malik, chicago, united states of America

"Mr Lee said that he had made it to counteract war films such as Clint Eastwood's Letters From Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers, in which black US troops hardly figured."

What a stupid reason to make a movie.

Joe, Atlanta, US

Actually African some Americans and Native Americans did own slaves before the Civil War.

I remember seeing an episode of the PBS Program "History Detectives" where one of the investigators who is African American briefly mentioned it in a case involving An African American.

Mike, Phoenix, USA

Has Spike Lee ever made a decent film, much less a good one?

Rob, ny, usa

Spike who???

Pat, Ohio, US

I don't like Spike Lee but for once in his life he has said something right. The partisans did left the civilians in trouble once they were back in the mountains.
My grandfather, a civilian, was forced to give food to them and then the German sent him to Dachau concentration camp.

Valerio, London,

Ask people who survived conflict. It doesn't matter if it is the good guys or the bad guys, the people die, get tortured, get raped, loose their freedom and food, and die again.
No needs to read the Torah for the facts, rather check Bagdad and Jerusalem morning paper.
God-less

Lauren, London, UK

I did not see the film, and I don’t plain to see it either .

Paul, Nashville, USA

I feel sorry for Spike Lee. He hates anything that is not black. Hatred is ugly and it destroys ones soul.

Al, Charlotte, NC

Well played, Eteienne! I like your style.

Brendan , Miami, USA

Spike is OK. As all other attempts at subject matter have failed miserably, his livelihood depends on the "do the right thing" themes. Racial stereo-typing (both ways) in the US has big entertainment value. Spike nowadays is just a perpetuation of that system, nothing more.

AJ, Shanghai,

Mr. Lee was trying so hard to make a point (actually far to many points) that he forgot to make a good movie. It is tedious, disjointed and unclear on some many key points. Don't waste your money.

Joe Kiefer, Honolulu, USA

How is Spike Lee even relevant? Who cares what he says or thinks? Also, it's just a film. If its entertaining go see it; if not, don't. People who learn history from movies deserve to be offended.

Tim Unglesby, Washington, DC, USA

Spike Lee, like most film makers, is a story teller. He is also an intelligent and opinionated man. Too often, fact and fiction are woven into the same fabric. Apparently, that is the case here. It is good that we have a free press and exchange of views in the Western World to correct ourselves.

jggrimm, Blythe, California, USA

It might help to remember that some believe history is just a lot of stories made up by the elites to keep themselves in power while disempowering others. I believe Mr. Lee subscribes to that view. For him, history is only accurate (or interesting) if it includes Black people.

Sam, Washington DC, USA

I understand how blacks have been misrepresented in history with many films usually showing events from a white perspective. But for Lee to make films that only show a black perspective of events is surely hypercritical and perhaps even a little racist.

Dan, Liverpool, UK

Yes, Bill! Especially tax payer funded 'films telling othe contribution of all minorities who have fought for The United States' except for Ken Burns and NPRs 'The War' where they systematically and again (like in 'Baseball' and 'Jazz') excluded the enormous contributions of Hispanics in WWII.

Jim Black, Houston, USA

The author of the book says, "... it is after all a work of fiction, not a history book." Spike Lee says, "“I am not apologising for anything. ... This film is our interpretation, and I stand behind it."

Someone needs to tell Mr Lee he made a black-power movie, not a historical reference.

Doug, Phoenix, USA

I saw it last night, am Italian- American, and thought it was well done, complex and thoughtful. Not all Italians liked the Allies nor did all support Mussolini. As in the US Civil War, fault lines ran everywhere. Clearly, the great majority of Italians were glad to be rid of Hitler.

asg, Philadelphia, Good Ol' USA

if only Spike would take his own advice. It is ok for him to slander an entire country because it his interpretation but should another filmmaker not follow Spike's version of black history then they are pilloried and called racist. Do as I say not as I do is his motto.

Skip , laguna beach, United States

No one is watching the movie anyways, it might be better if everyone just let it die an anonymous death

Dave, St. Louis, USA

When Barack Hussein Obama is elected and annointed as a war hero, even though nothing on the ground will have changed in Iraq, Hollywood will then start producing some good war movies!

Steve, San Diego, USA

Let's face it, Spike Lee is well known for twisting the truth in order to dress up and present his racist views to everyone else.

He has so little credibility and is so blatantly anti-white I'm not sure why anyone would waste their time seeing anything he's involved in.

Russ, Atlanta, USA

Spike Lee has consistently worked with Italian actors, so to say he hates Italians is just ludicrous. Sure Spike can be heavy handed in his depiction, but he has gotten better in the later years. To say he hasn't made a good movie in 20 years, now that is just hating. This subject is not easy.

Primus , Washington DC, USA

(Lee) told Italians that there was clearly "a lot about your history u have yet to come to grips with. This film is our interpretation, & I stand behind it.

So Spike says "B/c I'm black, & this is a story about blacks, I KNOW its right" yet Italians who claim to know THEIR own history are wrong?

CD, Detroit, USA

I am an amateur student of WW II and am not aware that there were any african american combat units in the war except the Tuskegee airmen and I think a tank destroyer outfit.

Frank Oudkirk, Roswell, GA, USA

The Italians should just shrug it off. The rest of America has already figured out Spike Lee: if you pay attention to him, he never goes away. Has to be one of the most overrated directors in the history of cinema.

Paul, Toledo, USA

General Mark W. Clark called the 92nd Division "One of the worst units I ever commanded"This was not a racist opinion on Clark's part (He was half Jewish on his Mother's side), but due to the poor performance reports he recieved and general incomptence the 92nd displayed in Italy....

Jim Kurdyla, Cranford, NJ, USA

Yawn another "statement" movie. I hope it bombs like "Rendition" which had only 9 million US Box office.

If I want a lecture I'll sign up for a college course.

Peter, San Diego, USA

I have little doubt that Spike Lee was the toast of Italy (as in the rest of Europe) when the target of his venom was his countrymen.

It seems that the shoe is on the other foot now.

I eagerly await Lee's attack on the French and British.

Veritas Maximus, Washington State, USA

Once Again, As with all of his hastily put together movies, Spike Lee has thrown himself Under The Bus...hey, wasnt that the name of one of his movies too?

Terrell Johnson, Birmingham, AL, USA

Yes, blacks fought in WWII, and no doubt did so honorably, but their contribution was minor compared to the sacrifice of whites. HOWEVER, their contribution was minor due to the racism which prevented them from participating more fully. Let's try to have some honesty when discussing history!!!

John, Phoenix, AZ

Spike Lee makes terrible, unwatchable movies. I know this because I used to let my wife drag me to see them. I even thought that maybe I couldn't appreciate his special point of view because I am white. After years of good faith trying I concluded that his movies just suck very very much.

gpo, Jamaica Plain, USA

Spike Lee is one of the worst of the "Race Merchants." Perhaps he would have been more faithful to real history, if he had not taken Eastwood's film as a personal affront to him. In rewriting this story, he has sullied the memory of the Black Americans, rather than honoring them.

David, Minneapolis MN, US

Re-writing history is more than just an agenda. It is an industry. Well written one-sided wrong historical accounts brings millions. To even question these accounts is considered a racist act. Any chance of Spike making a film on the Free Blacks who owned plantations and were slave owners? Truth!

Scott, Lebanon, CT, USA

Spike Lee - making a movie full of lies and calling it history???

SHOCKER!

Scott, Pittsburgh,

How about a man I had the honor of serving under, General "Chappy" James. It's sad to see such heroic Black Americans ignored by modern Black culture.
And why does everyone dismiss the incredible courage and efforts of those Black troops who ran the famed "Red Ball Express"! They delivered victory

B.L. Cross, N. Attleboro, MA, USA

Can't we somehow blame Bush for this!!!

Chukkal, Kent, UK

As an American of Italian ancestry with some first-hand knowledge of black racism, it is not a stretch to think that Spike Lee has managed to create some anti-white propaganda, even if he and McBride had to go all the way to Italy to do it. They have as much respect for reality as Oliver Stone.

Bill Rolleri, New Castle, DE, United States

I'm now going to do a film about Greek-Americans in the war like my father who fought in WWII to counteract Eastwood and Lee. Then my neighbor is going to do one about his father, an Irish-American, who fought in WWII to counteract Eastwood, Lee and me. Then his cousin is -- well, you get the idea.

Gavin, Kansas City, USA

I don't trust Spike Lee. He's made a career built on getting angry about history for black people. Its time to move on, just as the world has moved on, and stop reinforcing ridiculous stuff about black "identity" that ultimately needs to be transcended.

Joe, Manchester,

spike as usual makes a niggling film that tells lies and causes trouble

Steven Whitener, Greer, usa

I've watched all spike films. They are full of art, and rich,yet different story telling methods. For those of you who seem to hate him so much, the way you speak about his films and his legacy lead me to believe you've never actually sat down and watched one from beginning to credits.

chris, Birmingham AL, US

"seems quite interesting that Lee was complaining about how inaccurate parts of Eastwood's films were, "

O'contrare...Mr. Lee's complaints were that Clint's film was too historically factual and didn't add black characters that would have run counter to the facts.

Spike Lee is a joke.

jtb, Atlanta, USA

There are aspects of African history to come to grips with: notably that slavery was an African thing before the Europeans got involved; Africans enabled and made great deals of money from slavery, and whites not blacks stopped the export of slaves from Africa; Africa today still has slavery.

germaine botterell, london,

Americans should be ready to see the German point of view these days. Their armed forces, too, have conquered foreign countries only to find the people of those countries unreasonably hostile. "Insurgents", anyone? The Germans rarely killed as many civilians as the US armed forces routinely do.

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

How does this differ from any other American war film? Americans are the saviours everyone else is second rate. Reality has very little to do with movie scripts.

Maurice, Johannesburg, South Africa

It's interesting that the author would tell the Italians that there is "a lot about your history you have yet to come to grips with." Have African-Americans "come to grips with" the fact that it was blacks who sold other blacks into slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries ?

MDWhite, Los Angeles, USA

The Germans did not go around killing villagers for no reason. There was an intense partisan war going on. The Germans did carry out reprisals, sometimes agregious ones. The partisans are the ones who cannot face reality. They would often want reprisals so that more people would turn against Germany

Frank, Hawaii, USA

Calvino explores the Partisans' murky moral ground in regard to Nazi/Fascist reprisals which were purposefully out of scale with the partisan action in order to discourage them in "Path to the Spider's Nest". It is not new, and the issue is not one Americans made up. Through truth we can learn.

Catharine, new haven, USA

doug, you are wrong as you could be about the French Resistance, our WW2 Vets are dying so you better ask the downed pilots what the French resistance did for them. You can also as scholars how they helped the invasion of Normandy etc. And now we have libs attacking libs lol.

trey, fairfax,

Lee should be doing a movie on black butchery in various parts of Africa today instead of trying to fictionalize black american history....

bigmac, Jacksonville, USA

Spike Lee,

Your name as an author, commentator,...judge.... incites controversy. Are you proud of the controversy alone, or do you truly strive to make this world a better place? There is not one race among us who have not known the sword of "racial cleansing". Speak to the injustice of us all!

Teresa Williams, Soquel, USA

The Tuskegee Airmen, awesome movie (and true). I wonder, why as a artist Spike Lee felt the need to lie about history to prop up his race? Blacks did many things to help win WWII, why resort to a story of fiction?

I feel let down, false pride is pathetic, true patriotism is inspiring.

Tara Cole, Memphis, TN, USA

I am not a big Spike Lee fan but he has a point in this rergard. The myth of the inportance of the Partisans, the French Resistance, and anti-Nazi Germans have been exagerated due to national guilt. Similarly the atrocities of Imperial Japan and the Soviet Union have been downplayed in Russia & Jap

Doug, Philly, pa

most americans do not know or study european history, as some of these remarks show. Now that a black man tells a story about black soldiers, you try to ridecule the story. do not forget, these are american black soldiers and american japanese soldiers that fought in europe for your freedom.

david, mesa, usa

Silly at best, dangerous at worst as the young minds of mush suck the crud up and incorporate the fiction as fact.

Cecil, Pembroke, USA

Yeesssss.. harping on things that happened YEARS ago will sure help with the issues of today, Mr Lee! I guess if you're not African American, you DON'T have “a lot about your history you have yet to come to grips with." So what will African American history be like 100 years from now?

steph, Holtsville,

The movie is supposed to be "based on a true story," yet the author of the book says it's fiction! The men are supposedly from the 92nd Inf Division, and are painted as heroes when the 92nd had a poor record and frequently failed attacks or had to retreat from the line. Look it up for yourself.

D. Ramakers, Tustin, CA, USA

Never seen a Spike Lee would never know one.I guess I am lucky that I was raised in a household that didn't judge people by the color of the skin but by the content of their character. It is a funny thing in life we all have choices.Spike can make films that divide people or unite them his choice!

Peter, Topsham, ME, USA

Welcome to what you will see and hear for the next four years with an Obama presidency.

Europe wanted him, so now you will have him.

Let the rewriting of history begin in earnest!

Jeff Flowers, Dallas, US

Now the Europeans get a taste of the political correctness the Americans get a shoved down their throats of everyday.

Frank, Chicago,

I saw Spike Lee speak, and have a Q and A in Saint Cloud, MN a short time after his Jungle Fever movie in regards to that movie. He is definitely intelligent, but he is definitely angry (at white people). White people are not responsible for slavery. Saint Patrick was a slave, and so was Moses.

Sean, Manhattan Beach, U.S.A.

Welcome to the world of Hollywood liberalism. Now can you just please not believe that every motion picture that comes from this group represents the factual truth about life in the United States, or anywhere else in the world.

John Gullatt, Austin, Texas, USA

Smells of opportunism at the expense of the memory of the Partisans who were opposed by both the Nazis and the Fascists. My dad was a teenage Partisan in the Valtellina area and being so under resourced they had little option but to attached Nazi supply vehicles and flee into the mountains.

John De Campo, Cairns, Australia

The Italians here all thank Lee for saying what no one has the guts to say out loud in Italy. Spike's film has aroused more controversy over unacknowledged Italian issues than it has treating US racial injustices. That's because we've been facing our blighted past, and the italians have not.

digger, PEMBROKE PINES, usa

A house divided against itself cannot stand, said Abraham Lincoln.

Wish us luck.

Michael Spencer, Conway, Arkansas, USA

He's in NYC rolling in money. Once he even got a gig teaching in one of the Ivy schools. Nothing is ever good enough for him or the rest of the Civil Right members. There was a piece about him in one of the magazines where he supposedly rejects the good life. Whatever. Now he goes after the Italians

Mike, Boston, USA

Another bogus "historical" film by Hollywood? Are we surprised. Unfortunately, many children, and others easily influenced, form their opinions from movies such as these. This mischaracterization is often intentional - sometimes done for money or for political purposes. Make your own list.

Bill, Birmingham, USA

If they fictionalized the history and slandered the partisians, then welcome to our world. Our entire history is being retold by anti-american filmakers who totally rewrite history.
JFK, Salvador, now the new Bush movie.
In the future our youth will be to stupid to read but will know these films.

martin stuart , charleston, sc, USA

As an ex partizan myself (Yugoslavia) I take exception to the insulting false story about the Garibaldi heroes, our comrades in arms, who never betrayed "bandera rosa" ever!

Alex Seredin, Miami Beach, USA

Mr. Lee is just another, in a long line, of liberal revisionist socialists that think their cause is above all others. Especially the truth. He doesn't know anything about life and history first hand. He is a just a story teller, and a poor one at that. Tsk...tsk...

Marvin, Changwon, Korea

If Spike Lee wanted exploits of black solder or airman that are true why didn't he choose the exploits of the 761st Tank Battalion or the Tuskeegee Airmen of 99th 100th 323th and 324th Pursuit squadrons. If he wanted injustice how about The Port Chicago Mutiny.

john krauss, Spokane WA, USA

Movie directors have discretion to spin events to fit their personal views. Haven't seen the movie but I doubt if it shows black soldiers raping Italian civilians. Keep it real baby!

Ben, Philadelphia,

It's a bit irresponsible to try to take on a historic issue, in order to "set the record right" about one ethnic group's historical role, and then simultaneously finctionalize the event, and then knowingly take "artistic license" that distorts another group's role in the same event. Lee messed up.

curtis, Anywhere, USA

Spike needs to stay at courtside and stop trying to earn a living convincing the world he knows more and better about Black history and culture.

I'm Irish but I don't speak for all Irish nor do I pretend to but then, my age has given me a real understanding of humbleness.

Give it a rest Spike.

jeff, columbia, USA

I think Spike, like Jesse Jackson and other older civil rights leaders, is simply pushing a defunct "us and them" narrative. Their careers have been framed through a racial prism and putting forward positive depictions of the other side would contradict their very identity.

Cmon guys, move on!

Ryan, London, UK

There are many factual exploits of Black soldiers during WWII, why did he choose to direct a work of fiction. I was hoping it would be something along the lines of the book by Kareem Abdul Jabar. Which is a series of true stories about his father, not a work of fiction.

James, Keller, USA

Those interested should look into the story of Sommocolonia, where a black lieutenant, John Fox, upon being attacked by Nazis, sent the villagers away to save them and called in US artillary on his own position, where he and several Italian partisans were killed.

Hal, New York, USA

I am a black American, amature military historian, and my father served in the army during WWII. I have no interest to see this Spike Lee movie. I've long lost confidence in Lee's willingness to tell any story with any degree of objectivity and intellectual honesty.

Darryl, Omaha, USA

Spike Lee risks defining his entire career as a whinge on behalf of his race. Understandable to an extent, given the way black people were/are treated and that few get the chance to tell black history. However, Spike and James McBride more or less dismissing critics is a trifle arrogant.

David, London,

Alice Walker has a character in her book 'The Temple of My Familiar' who says: "This was the white man's war." He was the black character, who the author greatly sympathized with, who was a soldier during the World War II. A group has to share in sacrifices and blessings alike.

Amy, Tampa,

Great Movie, Bad Reality.

andrew, dunmerk,

Other than the Tuskeegee pilots, U.S. Army blacks during WWII were relegated to stevedoring and driving trucks. If Lee wanted to make a truly heroic movie about blacks, he should have done research on blacks in the Vietnam war. As it stands now, Lee is no better than Al Sharpton....a revisionist.

Andrew Hardy, Carville, Ca., USA

I remember Clint Eastwood had a good quote for Spike Lee awhile back. Ditto ! Spike Lee is nowhere near the same league as Clint Eastwood.

Forrest, Chicago, USA

Have no worries, Italy. This movie will flop, no one will pay to see it.

Mark, Philadelphia, USA

In Italy is forbidden to say Italy lost the WW2, if you say it you are fascist. Also it's forbidden to say Allies won the war, because fascism was defeated by the Resistenza. It's a big lie.
Welcome Spike Lee if helps to break a tabu.

Lino, Milan, Italy

It is a movie. It is a work of fiction. News flash.....There is no Batman either.

zach swann, Marathon, USA

The nature of the "offense" is not love or hatred for Italians but dislike for the communists, the base of the partisan movement in occupied Italy. New old news.

Jacinto Lirola, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Should I say that the American History book writers are stupid and promote prejudice and discrimination since they didn't tell the truth either. It was supposed to be real, but it is not truth at all.

Henrietta, Harrisburg, Pa,

Colour, colour, colour.....yawn, how boring. Yet another colour-obsessed pseudo intellectual. They only get away with boring us to death because the cowardly PC liberals keep pandering to these characters.

RB, Aberdeen,

At this very moment in history there are soldiers of both sexes and many colors - British, Americans, and others - that are distinguishing themselves in freeing the innocent from dictators and terrorists. Yet, very few stories are told about these heroes in the media and Hollywood. It is a sin.

WSBowles, Louisville KY, USA

I'll watch a Spike Lee movie when he makes one that brings the races together, rather than drives them apart. He, and a lot of blacks, are bigger racists than whites are. Millions of whites have fought to eliminate racism in the US. Make a film that acknowledges that Spike, and you'll be doing good.

Vacca, Denver, Colorado, US

As a relative of a Black soldier who fought courageously for America and fought for the Italians whose villages were being bombed by the Nazis, I am so proud to see a depiction of this battle. What other director would depict such a batlle? I wouldn't hold my breath for Clint.

Jen, Philadelphia,

The film is a failure.It tried to be an allegory,a war epic, a murder mystery AND a truth-telling as to the heroism of the Buffalo Soldiers---and it missed the boat on all four. Lee lacks the directorial chops to tell a big story--he should stick to proselytizing in indies. Or find a new career.

Laurie , New York, US

The promos would seem to lead the viewer in the direction that spike Lee's film is based on an historical event, not a fictional novel. Why would Spike want to, “to restore the voice of black soldiers who fought in the war.” in a fictional story? Wouldn't it be better to do a documentary?

Evan, California,

As a relative of one of the Black soldiers who fought in this battle, I am honored to see that his sacrifices are being told - whether it be fiction or non-fiction. The battle itself is ALL THAT MATTERS! Would Clint Eastwood direct this movie?Doubt it..too far from the 'American Cowboy' attitude.

Jen, Philadephia, USA

American directors have a habit of manipulating historical fact to suit their own tastes, take Braveheart or The Patriot for example. Both utterly rubbish films with little element of truth. They tried to alay some of their guilt over the Genocide of Indians with Dances with Wolves...

Jon K, Southampton, UK, EU

African americans cannot re-write history. My father is a world war 2 navy man. Its a fact that blacks were relegated to non combat roles....right or wrong, thats the way it was. He tries to say on one hand whites are racists and the other blacks were given important tasks as in this movie.

Rick, Allentown, USA

I forgot to mention films like Custer of the West, Custer's Last Stand - Again Americans creating a mythology of manifest destiny (how's about Genocide).

Jon K, Southampton, UK

Jeez, Spike. It's a bit much to expect blacks to appear in Clint Eastwood's Letters From Iwo Jima --- since the entire fiilm exclusively records the actions of <em>the Imperial Japanese Army!</em>

Fred Baumann, Bellefonte, PA, USA

Yes, it's fiction. The problem is Spike has two agendas. One is to elevate pride within the African American community. And who can argue with that goal? But the second agenda is to sell tickets, which is harder to do when you admit the content of the movie is only partially true - see DaVinci Code.

JB, San Jose, USA

Spike Lee is amazing--he is not stupid--but he says stupid things all the time. He criticized Eastwood because his IWO JIMA movie did not show black soldiers fighting---because there were NO black soldiers that fought on the front lines on IWO. Historical fact. Sorry, Spike.

Rick, Atlanta, USA

Looks like we needed a Black American to say something everyone back here in Italy knows but can't dare say.

Girolamo, Pisa, Italy

Some of the messages Lee tries to convey are lost on many who lack empathy; they ridicule instead of opening their minds. Saw it, liked it, recommend it. The Nazis & the turncoat were the only ones who came out looking bad. Spike Lee is an American hero who reps the underdog, like it or not.

Natalia, Miami, USA

I agree with Bill from Oklahoma City, Lee's films are nothing more than race baiting rants meant to widen the gap between races rather than try to build a bridge. Eastwood was right.

tom, Portland, USA

I was wrong! Elements of the 93rd US Army Infantry Division fought in Italy in WW II and it was black unit.

Frank Oudkirk, Roswell, GA, USA

The most partisans were communists and fought in order to substitute the fascist dictatorship with their red dictatorship. They took the Germans by surprise and caused the reprisals. Never they defended the population left in trouble.

Ficai Silvio, Schlanders-Bozen, Italy

Spike Lee has demonstrated time and time again, through speaking and actions that he is a racist. Although I have Italian, and Polish blood in my veins, I consider myself only AMERICAN. Get over the "poor me my ancestors were slaves"-MOVE ON" My ancestors were no better off.....Spike, give it up

Nino, NYC, US

Oh Good Lord people!! It's FICTION!! Not HISTORY!! "The Bridge Over The River Kwai(sp)" ,"Full Metal Jacket"; Fiction based on History. "Battle Of The River Plate", " The 3 Days Of The Condor", "The Great Escape March". All are a work of FICTION BASED on History. NOT actual History!!

Dee, Miami, USA

Spike Lee is very smart: He knows you can smear Italians and Italian-Americans all you want and they don't fight back. They have no lobby, no power in the media, they hardly have any notable writers, they fight amongst one another, and they take all of his abuse. He'd never do this to another group.

mike, New York, USA

Spike Lee is still making movies? Someone cares?

Mike, Washington DC, USA

Wendy Weinbaum, Chicago, IL, USA - I believe Eteienne was talking specifically about Spike Lee's family. Are you saying that Spike Lee's ancestors fought for the Confederacy? Ha - I didn't know that -- bet he's tried to keep that quiet!!

Gabriel, New York, US

Funny that Spike "won't apologize for anything," yet expected Eastwood to apologize for not having any African-Americans in his film. Spike Lee is a fool.

Marlene, Chicago,

The author of the book even says it is fiction. Why does Spike say Italians need to come to grips with it? He really is ignorant.

Paul, Baltimore, USA

Spike is just like the rest of Hollywood. If you have an axe to grind just make a movie and change history to show your point of view. Forget that none of it may be true or that it may hurt someone. As long as it glorifies your cause.

eki, Houma, US

seems quite interesting that Lee was complaining about how inaccurate parts of Eastwood's films were, then only to do the same thing to offend someone else. i wonder who the italians will offend when they counteract this war film?

besides, they shouldnt worry to much. no one seems to be watching it

james, norwich, UK

Eteienne, there WERE black soldiers who fought for the Confederacy; a number received pensions from their states after the war. But that's surely something you'll NEVER see in a Spike Lee film. (I can direct you to scholarly, well-cited works on the subject.)

John Prime, Shreveport, LA/USA

Historical truths often offend when they are at odds with 'accepted' facts. African American history is a perfect example of such distortions. Few people have more depth and empathy for African American history than Spike Lee. His critics should research and understand before commenting.

Donovan Wright, Reading, Berkshire,

Wow, it seems that by the other comments no one is going to stand up for the Americans who were part of the greatest generation ever. It is called the "fog" of war for a reason. If only Americans were willing to give Americans the benefit of the doubt instead of bashing their legacy.

Brian, Houston, Texas

James Mcbride is NOT a World War 2 veteran. He was born in 1957, long after the war ended, so he was probably more interetsed in his agenda than in accuracy. Get your facts straight!

Lucinda, San Diego, California, USA

To Eteienne, of New York, USA: Yes, many Southern blacks DID fight for the Confederacy during the US Civil War. Many historians overlook that, just as contemporary news people ignore the slaver trade in black Africa today!

Wendy Weinbaum, Chicago, IL, USA

When little 'Spikey' stops viewing absolutely everything through his little racist filter, he might make something worth watching. Spike, nobody other than Al Sharpton cares about this anymore. Move on.

David, San Francisco, USA

Spike Lee's work is about the victimization of blacks. Nothing else matters to him, not accuracy, not history, just his point of view. Boring in 2008, I think.

Xixi, Alexandria, VA, US

I'm not surprised. Spike has been trying to rewrite the Italian American narrative for many years. He has grossly depicted the behavior of Italian-Americans in his films. If only he could return to the caliber of "School Daze", which is a wonderful film.

Sergio, NYC,

As for myself, I am constantly offended by the depiction of Italian-Americans in movies and commercials. We are often made out to be buffoons & idiots and nothing could be further from the truth. As a minority we are 5.2 % of the population, never held slaves yet are blamed for that atrocity too.

bbbrown, boston, usa

Spike Lee is an Anti-American Public joke.

He makes up scripts and films to hurt and anger people.

Stay away from this historical travesty-------IN DROVES!

BILL, Oklahoma City, USA

Saw film, excellent. I can believe everything Spike Lee and the author, James McBride, tried to say. We need more films telling of the contribution of all minorities who have fought for The United States

Fred Pfeifer, Brownsville Texas , USA

The Italians should treat Spike Lee the same way Clint Eastwood did. Tell him to "shut his face"!

Darrell, Dallas,

Making up a history is not telling the true story but a perversion of the the truth story. And THAT is offensive. Maybe Spike Lee needs to "come to grips" with his lieing.

Mickey, HOuston, USA

So Spike Lee hates Italians. What else is new?

CallMeIshmael, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA

I saw the movie "Miracle at St Anna" this past weekend and found that the story that Spike Lee tried to tell was undisciplined and wondered all over the place. How did the one GI come to be in possession of the statue head? How did the legend of the sleeping man in the mountain fit into the story?

Jay, Denver, usa

How would lee feel if someone posted a "film" about him and his ancestors on Youtube that depicted them as African slaveholders. (there is slavery in africa today). Or maybe they fought for the confederacy.

It is only "entertainment" after all, and a "work of fiction" like lee and his author say.

Eteienne, New York, USA

has he ever produced anything actually worth watching !

Gordy , kitzbuhel, Austria

Spike Lee hasn't done a good piece of work in 20 years. He's quite taken with himself and with the idea that a film will be highly regarded just because his name is affiliated with a project. Spielberg he isn't. No art here. Sorry to say this but I had hopes for him but his better days are distant.

abe, Los Angeles, US