Citadels of the Mediterranean: A dusty, quiet wander

Is it worth the watch?

Honestly, it depends on how much you like staring at grainy, black-and-white stone walls. If you’re a history buff or someone who finds old travel documentaries weirdly soothing, you'll probably dig this. If you need a plot, snappy dialogue, or anything resembling a human heartbeat, stay away. You will be bored into a coma within ten minutes.

It feels like stumbling onto a projector in a basement that’s been running on a loop since the thirties. There’s no real guide, just the hum of the camera and these massive, hulking structures that have seen way too much.

The texture of old stone

The cinematography isn’t exactly doing cartwheels. It’s static, patient, and sometimes it just holds on a shot of a harbor wall for way longer than feels necessary. At one point, I found myself counting the cracks in a buttress. That’s the kind of movie this is.

There’s a funny disconnect when you compare this to something like Peaceful Valley. While that one tries to pull you into a story, Citadels is perfectly happy just existing. It doesn’t care if you’re bored. It doesn’t care if you’ve walked out of the room to make a sandwich.

Small observations

• The way the light hits the water makes it look like it’s made of tinfoil.
• The extras in the background look like they have no idea they're being filmed, which is charmingly accidental.
• Some of these towers look like they’re one stiff breeze away from falling into the sea.
• The lack of a heavy-handed score is a blessing.

Sometimes the camera pans across a landscape and it feels like the operator was just trying to get a good angle before the sun went down. It’s not polished, and that’s why it works. It feels like a piece of paper you found in an old library book.

I wouldn't compare it to the intensity of The Burning Trail, obviously. This is much quieter. It's the cinematic equivalent of a heavy, woolen sweater. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re in the right mood, it’s a strange, dusty little treasure. 🏛️