Ballad of a Soldier (The Criterion Collection)
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Actor: Antonina Maksimova, Nikolai Kryuchkov, Vladimir Ivashov, Yevgeni Urbansky, Zhanna ProkhorenkoBrand: Image Entertainment
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Russian (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Black & White, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 88 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-04-30
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Criterion
DVD Reviews of Ballad of a Soldier (The Criterion Collection)
DVD Review: Khrushchev "thaw" filmmaking
Summary: 4 Stars
Alexander Yakovlev, former head of the Russian archives & close Gorbachev advisor, states the following in his book "A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia": "the number of people sentenced between 1923 and 1953 total more than 41 million." 41 MILLION! "More than 994,000 Soviet servicemen were sentenced during the war by military tribunals alone, and of this number more than 157,000 were sentenced to be shot." That said, The Ballad of A SOLDIER is still a good fine (I'll explain the above shortly). It is extremely well shot; so much so that it has the feel of silent film, wherein emotion, drama, plot, etc. are conveyed through visual means. That it is subtitled (in English, from Russian dialogue) just adds to the effect. It's a simple story, but a timeless one---that of what those back home lose when a country's youth goes off to war. This film, thus, isn't particularly anti-war (or pro-war), or particularly political at all (notwithtanding other reviewers comments to the contrary). War is not a "good" in of itself, so people have to be provoked into desiring to be a part of it--easier when it's recognized as a just action, of course. Usually, many just do their duty to their country when called upon to do so; like the Russians did when called upon by their country to do so. But, unlike in the West, American/British security forces didn't need to shoot their own compatriots to instill disapline & keep forces from surrendering & deserting. So, let's not get caried away when speaking of "The Soviet soldier." First of all "The Soviet Man" was a figment of The Communist Party of The Soviet Union's warped mind. Russians, Ukrainians, Georgians, et al. fought out of duty yes, but also because they were attacked & also because the Othorodox Church appealed to its adherents (as Stalin went into seclusion, having almost a breakdown for upwards of 2 weeks) to resist the Nazi war machine (ignoring Soviet support for Hitler the months previous). A viewers particulars hasn't much relevence either, morever, as to whether this is a good film or not---ie., you don't have to be Russian to like this film. It is a fine film as I've indicated above (& contrary to others who think so mostly because they think it conforms to a political view they hold). In this film a boy goes off to war. We see a bit of action at the front, as a result from which this soldier is slated to be given a citation for valor. In lieu of such---this almost accidental hero---asks, however, for a pass to return home to see his mother who he didn't have time to say goodbye to when leaving for the army. The rest of the film chronicles his journey (mostly by train) east, across the war ravaged USSR; highlighting the importance of family, ties, a sense of place, missed opportunities, and such. Mishaps along the way expend most of his leave, however, resulting in his having to immediately reverse course as soon as he reaches his destination. So he gets to embrace his mother and make up for not having said goodbye previously, it is but a fleeting moment to savor during a time of extreme difficulty. Call that anti-war if you like, but that doesn't mean it wasn't worth fighting the Nazis---and no country suffered more than did the USSR from Hitler's war machine. By all regards give the Russians, Ukrainians, Uzbeks, etc. their due, but keep in mind---as the above figures indicate---that Stalin was almost as afraid (doubting the loyalty to him & Communism) of his own people as he was of Nazi Germany. By the way too, the monnicker of an "anti-war" film is a misnomer---Across the board, "war is never just" folk are not "anti-war," but simply pacifists. If other reviewers herein could ignore their heritage and political leanings & let this film stand on its own (commendable) efforts maybe others could more easily decide for themselves whether this film is worth seeing or not. (Do consider reading the book "Babi Yar" for more detail of the havoc the Nazis inflicted in the Ukraine.) Cheers!
Description of Ballad of a Soldier (The Criterion Collection)
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