Judith (1966) is one of those films that feels tucked away in cinema history — a post-war drama that might not be widely remembered today, but still holds a certain allure thanks to its magnetic stars: the legendary Sophia Loren and the always compelling Peter Finch.

Directed by Daniel Mann, the film unfolds in the tense aftermath of World War II, set in what was then British Mandate Palestine. Loren plays Judith Auerbach, a concentration camp survivor who arrives in the region carrying a heavy burden of trauma and secrets. She is recruited by the Haganah — the Jewish paramilitary group — to help track down her estranged husband, Gustav Schiller (Hans Verner), a former Nazi collaborator and tank commander now working with Arab forces to crush the Jewish underground.

Peter Finch plays Aaron Stein, the dedicated resistance leader who must convince Judith to relive her painful past for the sake of their mission. As Judith ventures deeper into enemy territory, the film weaves espionage, romance, and the haunting scars of the Holocaust into a single narrative.

Sophia Loren’s performance is raw and quietly fierce — her portrayal of a woman torn between grief, anger, and reluctant hope elevates the film beyond its sometimes uneven script. Opposite her, Peter Finch brings gravitas and moral weight, embodying a man driven by both cause and compassion.

Though Judith isn’t often listed among Loren’s greatest hits, it’s a fascinating snapshot of mid-60s international cinema — a mix of war drama, spy thriller, and personal reckoning wrapped in the tense atmosphere of a region on the brink of massive change. The sweeping desert landscapes and dramatic orchestral score add a layer of old-school grandeur to the political intrigue.

More than anything, Judith is worth revisiting to see Sophia Loren and Peter Finch — two giants of their era — share the screen in a film that explores survival, betrayal, and the search for justice when the past refuses to stay buried.

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