What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Great War
Film · 1959
If you loved The Great War, start with War and Peace (2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Great War across media.
If you loved The Great War, you likely appreciate how it uses dark humor to expose the absurdity of military bureaucracy.
Books on the same thread
The Good Soldier Švejk (Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka za světové války)
Jaroslav Hašek, Josef Lada · Book · 1923
Shares a thread with The Great War: Survival.
Much like the protagonists of The Great War, the simple-minded hero here navigates the senseless machinery of conflict, offering a similar satirical lens on the incompetence of wartime authority.
Catch-22
Joseph Heller · Book · 1961
Shares a thread with The Great War: Black Comedy.
The Great War captures the struggle for survival against institutional logic, a theme mirrored perfectly in this story of a soldier trapped by the maddening contradictions of military life.
War and Peace (Война и мир)
Leo Tolstoy · Book · 1869
Explores: Napoleonic Wars, Russian aristocracy, Social class.
If The Great War hit, War and Peace (Война и мир) shares the thread.
The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk During the World War, Book Two
Jaroslav Hašek · Book · 2009
Shares 3 threads with The Great War: Bureaucracy, Anti-War, Survival.
This narrative echoes the cynical survivalism found in The Great War, delivering a biting critique of officialdom that will resonate with those who enjoyed the film's anti-war sentiment.
Series on the same thread
The World at War
Series · 1973
Explores: World War II, Historical Account, The Holocaust.
If The Great War hit, The World at War shares the thread.
The War
Series · 2007
Explores: World War II, Homefront, Personal Accounts.
If The Great War hit, The War shares the thread.
War and Peace
Series · 2016
Shares a thread with The Great War: Historical Drama.
If The Great War hit, War and Peace shares the thread.
Catch-22
Luke Davies · Series · 2019
Shares 3 threads with The Great War: Bureaucracy, Anti-War, War Comedy.
This adaptation perfectly captures the existential dread and administrative insanity that defined the experience of the reluctant soldiers in The Great War, blending black comedy with genuine military frustration.
Podcasts on the same thread
Story Warz
Podcast
Explores: deception, storytelling, wit.
If The Great War hit, Story Warz shares the thread.
WAR MODE
Podcast
Explores: Dark Humor, Cynicism, Current Events Commentary.
If The Great War hit, WAR MODE shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Great War based on historical events?
Yes, The Great War is set in 1916 during World War I. The film depicts the experiences of Italian youths, specifically Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca, as they are called to serve in the army during the conflict.
What is the premise of The Great War?
The Great War follows two Italian men, Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca, who are drafted into the military during World War I. The narrative focuses on their persistent efforts to avoid serving in the army after being called up in 1916.
Who are the main characters in The Great War?
The primary characters in The Great War are Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca. They are two Italian youths who find themselves drafted into the army in 1916 and spend the film attempting to evade their military service duties.
When does The Great War take place?
The Great War takes place in 1916. The story centers on the Italian front of World War I, following two protagonists, Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca, as they are summoned to join the army and attempt to avoid their service.