adisgolos

It was only possible to make such film 50 years ago. Today, nobody would give Ridley Scott money to make film with no CGI, superheroes, or without attempts to save the world from evil forces or aliens. Period of Napoleonic wars is reconstructed so meticulously that one feels to be transposed to that place and time. Frank Tidy's cinematography is on such level that most of the frames could stand as separate oil paintings. Usage of light is equally exquisite. Every aspect of this film is as close to perfection as it is possible.

I have an impression that the only purpose of this film was not to show historical event but to spread anticommunist propaganda. All characters are unlikable and cartoonish including the main one. No, Zaitsev vas not illiterate apolitical peasant but well informed and educated person. Neither was he androgine like Jude Law in this film. Whoever read his autobiography could see that everything in reality is the opposite to what was shown in the film. No, Russian officers did not lock their soldiers in railway wagons like cattle. They did not shout and yell at them in the battle forcing them ruthlessly into suicide attacks. If they were so incompetent how come they defeated Hitler and liberated Berlin? Mr Jean Jacques Annaud, (French) director of this pamphlet should ask himself why didn't French or British troops defeated Germany. Simply because they were not even present at mainland Europe territory before June '44. They were "resting" 3 years. Too little to late, war was practically over then because nazis were already broken in 1943 at Kursk and Stalingrad and everything after that done by "Allies" is just kabuki theater. Because everyone knows that for German soldier and officer deployment at eastern front in WW2 was the same as death sentence. Unlike to say France, which was considered a holiday. Back to film, Nikita Khruscev was a political leader, not military commander. He was neither stupid nor merciles beast. There is no evidence that he forced any general to suicide. Basically every Russian in the film is stupid, ugly, anticommunist, hate their commanders or are afraid of them. Which is all utter nonsense. Every single stereotype about Russians and Germans is used. Love and triangle between main characters is without chemistry, doesn't work and is totally unnecessary and completely ruins already bad film. Sex scene in the barracks among sleeping people is disgusting and improbable. Someone found more than 130 inaccuracies and errors in this film but for me even worse is general atmosphere of forced political propaganda by the authors in every second of this steaming pile of garbage. Yes there are some mildly entertaining battle scenes, and Ed Harris gave a good performance but it is still far from being worth watching. It all somehow reminds me of "Child 44" another piece of very similar political propaganda.