Wars are not just big battles and intense military challenges. The majority of the daily life during a war is composed of micro-stories, of ordinary people with their trivialities, fears, and aspirations. In Hollywood films, soldiers magically transform into bloodthirsty heroes, killing machines. However, in reality, those poor young men, taken out of their daily context, find themselves having to confront situations in which, despite their training, they don't lose their human essence.
This is an intimate film, devoid of the grand special effects of war productions, and probably not appreciated by genre purists. The very low budget perfectly aligns with the story being told; there are no frills, just pure and simple everyday life for a small improvised platoon. The music also avoids the bombastic clichés of grand fanfares and frenetic rhythms, relying mainly on significant compositions of classical music, which is likely the music that these young men have in their imagination when lost in the bucolic countryside. The American paratrooper from the 101st Airborne Division might have had different rhythms in his head-jazz, rhythm & blues-but the poor soul, shocked by some bombardment, perhaps only has a profound and immense silence in his mind.
The low budget also forgives a few equipment errors; the German officer clearly has an outdated and mismatched insignia from the time the film is set. The merit of this production is not falling into a simple reenactment of World War II; the gap is truly narrow.
I would have given it an 8 if only a little more had been invested in post-production special effects, which are ultimately the most economical (explosions, gunfire sounds), and a bit more realism in the makeup. I've seen too many clean-shaven and neatly groomed faces, and well-combed hair even after several nights out in the open.
