A Outra Face da Guerra

This Latvian film depicts hell on the battlegrounds through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old boy named Arturs during World War l. In this period of time, I learned that the Latvians had been infringed and butchered by neighboring countries such as Germany and Russia. To gain freedom, even children had to fight with rifles in their hands and their innocent blood was spilt. Although the overall style of this film is rather subdued, it conveys the pain and the horror the boy experiences very intensely. Even the battle scenes aren't overly dramatic which makes the film more realistic. Very sad yet a powerful story to watch.

"Blizzard of Souls" tells the story of a young man, Arturs Vanag (Oto Brantevics). This is story like so many other war stories hitting the theatres lately. The difference lies in the details. Once the movie starts, you get sucked into the story, knowing what will happen. After German soldiers kill his mother and the family dog, he signs on with the Latvian battalion of the Imperial Russian Army, along with his father and brother. Then more tragedy strikes. I was really impressed by how the movie was filmed and the awesome acting of Oto Brantevics (first movie role and casted out of 1300 candidates). The last part of the movie is slower paced and makes you think about Artur. All the choices he made seemed the wrong ones. But are there good ones in a war like this. The storytelling tackles two wars and the absurdity of the war. Again, if you like war movies, this one you have to see. There are really awesome scenes you will not forget.

First ever thought after movie credits started to appear on the big screen line after line was - I want to hold on to the feeling this movie has been awakening inside of my soul. It's hard to tell a story about a time that has been long gone, yet is in people's memories trough books and history lessons in school. Nevertheless - creators of "Blizzard of souls" are touching audiences with the simplicity, with extracted one person perspective, one joy and love, one... This is actually extremely hard to shine light on history trough a personal journey trough war days and relationships that are formed by the rush of war - everyone understands the urgency to take action and live this very second, to fullest, since there's great chance that might be the last sunrise, last meal, last kiss. Yet everyone is hoping to be able to live long enough to have that peace after.. Movie balances, telling us all the mix of emotions via superb camera work, brilliant movie soundtrack and acting that is heavenly simple and to the point. Some of the episodes are proudly written in the golden heritage of Latvian cinema, some will be. This is the movie that starts great line of stories - after the Alexander Green masterpiece here as cinematic marvel, people should watch "Chronicles of Melania" - these both are letting foreign people to understand the utmost importance and pain we feel and can make you understand why all the time under the soviet oppression was so dark for people who just recently had to fight so courageously to have own time, own country and own values.. No - this is not an easy and entertaining movie. This is a soul shaker. I would love to see 11 stars out of 10 - but giving here full 9 - as my effort towards "less biased" ratings. Must see!

The movie was realy good, it is definetly the best latvian war movie, and prehaps the best ww1 movie out of all of them. The only problem i can pinpoint is the acting and sometimes the diolouge, wich was decent for most of the characters but sometimes the main characters voice acting was just terible in my opinion. I wouldnt say that the acting ruined the movie tough. Most of it was realy servicable, and i quite like that they didnt take all the overused latvian actors wich were realy tireing. Overall, the movie was fantastic, telling a almost completely unexplored ww1 front, especialy when it comes to wich part of the front. Definetly would recomend to anyone even remotely interested in ww1.

I completely agree with reviewer, fernandojnfalmeida's short but right on the money review:

Quote: "Fantastic, better than 1917 fernandojnfalmeida-672-22614620 November 2020 Let's say it's a 1917, with better cinematography, with a plot at a much higher level and a density and complexity of historical facts stratospheric compared to 1917." Unquote

The movie 1917 that won an Oscar is still a clueless myth to me. The whole movie was merely about two British grunts volunteered or been forced to carry out an alert mission. What we saw was just a camera followed those two young men went through the battlefield with actually nothing to tell, except when a German plane after bombing was shot down by the British riflemen on the ground. That was the only incident worth mentioning. Other than that episode, there's nothing special to tell. We just followed the damn camera which followed those two grunts backs went through the whole lame movie to the end.

But "Blizzard of Souls" is a totally different achievement. Telling us how a young kid under 17 from a farm boy to grow up into a seasoned veteran, who lost his mother, father and later lost his big brother. Wounded so many times, almost was killed several times, even escaped from an execution.

The movie itself is a saga, a journey throughout the four seasons, so many deaths, so many losses, so many bloody battles, bleeding, wounds. When the movie ended and the credit appeared, you would see those photos in black and white shot at that time were all subtly acted, directed and edited with the real actors to realize truthfully. The harshness of the fate of that little country, first invaded and raped by the German, then cheated, manipulated by the Tsars, then again coerced, forced and cheated by the Soviet Russia. A small but tough nation not liberated from the slavery of the Red Communist Russia until late in the 20th Century and finally allow the world to know what a beautiful country it is. What a journey!

If the lousy "1917" could win Oscar, then this "Blizzard of Souls (The Rifleman)" should win more! I am also quite amazed that a small country could produce and present to us such a mature and wonderful war movie. Everything looked authentic and real, battle scenes, costumed, make-up, editing, directing and acting are very very good. Every scene was so detailed and carefully shot. What a nice work! I never got bored, lost focus and became impatient from the beginning to the end.

Highly recommended!