Ashes in the Snow

It's really important to understand the atrocities and oppression of the Russian government over Eastern Europeans. This film takes place during World War II but even under the Tsar/Czar in the late 1800's and early 1900's, Russia was trying to erase Lithuanian and other conquered cultures with such things as Banning the local language and books.

This film shows us that the Russians were not much better than the Nazis when it came to concentration/labor camps. Without spoilers, it's heartbreaking and horrible what they did to millions of people from the 1930s to the 1950s. I have Lithuanian family who were deported to Siberia and not released for 15 years! Watching this you will understand what they say and so many went through.

Greetings from Lithuania.

Finally i saw a Lithuanian movie (most of it), which is the one that can definitely be safely shown abroad without embarrassment to itself. And the movie is "Ashes in the Snow" (2018). This is a highly solidly directed, acted, written, filmed and edited movie. It tells a true story and stories. My grandfather was one of those who witnessed and survived this experience on his own, luckily, he did come back.

Overall, "Ashes in the Snow" represent a good Lithuania cinema. Not some stupid pseudo / comedies for with same faces all over again targeted for same audiences trailers of which to even witness in a cinema feels like embarrassment. Not our "Tarantino" wannabe directors crime / comedies of a genre which faded away from cinema more then a decade ago - but in our country feels fresh!

"Ashes in the Snow" is the one who should be seen for all true movie lovers around the world. Great Lithuania cinema.

While this is a story that needs to be told, somehow this film does not come together. The lead, Bel Powley, has a wide eyed look that seems to be almost a caricature of innocence. The attraction of the soldier and her mother does not have feeling and he is poorly explained. Some of the problem that the actors had was in the writing. For example nothing in the Bel Powley character showed the leadership as the dying mother declared. She showed innocence, not the clever reading of people that leaders have. Still there were touching moments and a history that should be known.

Film was not a big-budget, multi continent blockbuster. But it was entertaining, and enjoyable, and achieved its objective. Overall well written, good screenplay, well edited. Captured the narrative (I assume that) they wanted us to have. Would I watch it again? I doubt it. Would I recommend it, maybe not recommend it, but if someone wanted to watch something in this class I would definitely suggest it. Full credit to all involved, if you are not sure if you want to watch it you should, they did it very well

'Ashes in the Snow' is a war drama that tugs at the heartstrings. Note, this is not a film about soldiers on the battlefield. Instead, it concentrates on how it affects the people, and in particular Lithuanians.

One can only cringe at the inhumane things humans did during war, simply because their government expected it of them. It turned ordinary men into coldblooded killers. This film also showed us the reluctant soldiers. Men who found themselves in situations they dreaded. Yet, they still had orders to follow...

The acting is very good, especially Bel Powley as heroin Lina. We follow her family as they are taken from the comfort of their home, to a six-week long harrowing journey on a train, to a prison camp in Siberia, and finally to the freezing Laptev Sea. This is an emotional and heartfelt journey sure to set emotions in motion.