Stalingrad

Bondarchuk is quite famous film director in Russia. This film of his obviously is a little step forward for post Soviet cinema. Some German characters, especially main protagonist are depicted in a human way in contrary to familiar image of a German solder as animal, coward and rapist.But Soviet solders in the film remain as in old Soviet movies. They are all brave, unstoppable hardcore yet loving, tender warriors. Battle scenes are professionally recreated, shot and edited and used mostly to glue together the rest of the film, which are mostly long monologues or dialogs of the various characters and landscapes of covered in ash ruins of the city. Cast is great. Great faces, costumes and prop installations. Much effort to make this film great fails however short of success. Story lines runs unevenly and very weak at times. Message of the film is unclear.And what really brings it down are unnecessary comments by voice over telling us of horrors committed by German solders. old habits of Soviet propaganda never die ?? Pity really.