The Death Agony of the Eagles: Old soldiers, bad plans, and a lot of moping

Is this worth the time?

If you have a thing for movies where men in uniforms sit in dim rooms talking about the good old days, you’ll probably dig this. If you need pacing, excitement, or anything resembling a modern narrative beat, skip it. It’s definitely not for the casual weekend watcher who just wants to see something move.

The movie is essentially a study in aimlessness. You’ve got these former big-shot officers who have been stripped of their relevance, and honestly, it shows. They drift from meeting to meeting like ghosts who haven't realized they’re dead yet. It’s kind of tragic, but also just a little bit exhausting to watch.

There is this one scene—I think it’s about halfway through—where they’re just debating logistics in a drafty room, and the camera just stays on their faces for a second too long. You can see the weariness. It’s not just the characters being tired; the whole movie feels like it’s running on fumes.

The weight of the past

I found myself thinking about The Burning Soil while watching this, mainly because of how both films trap their characters in a specific, suffocating environment. Here, the environment is just old age and lost glory. It’s less about the actual plot—which is a bit of a mess, let's be real—and more about the vibe of men who have run out of road.

• The dialogue is thick, almost like molasses.
• Nobody ever seems to actually do anything, they just talk about doing it.
• The costumes look heavy, like they're weighing the actors down.

It reminds me a bit of the aimless energy in Si tu veux, where the characters are just waiting for a life to start that already passed them by. There’s no big payoff here. No epic charge of the cavalry. Just a bunch of guys realizing that the world has moved on and they’re still wearing their old hats.

Is it boring? Maybe. But there’s something strangely honest about how useless they all feel. It’s not a heroic portrait. It’s a sad, dusty look at people who can’t figure out how to be normal civilians again. They are literally stuck.

I wouldn't call it a masterpiece or anything. It feels like a project that was made because someone had a specific obsession with this era. It’s an oddly specific, slightly sad watch. Not for everyone, but if you're in the mood for something that doesn't care if you're entertained, give it a go. Just don't expect a fun night in. 🎞️