I have seen several very remarkable Russian films about World War II. Considering how badly the nation was decimated, it's not surprising that their films have a strong sense of sadness and sentiment. My favorite of these is "Ballad of a Soldier", but "The Cranes are Flying" and "Ivan's Childhood" are also amazingly good.
"Ivan's Childhood" is about a boy who was left orphaned during the German invasion of his country. He is eventually found by the Russian army and he becomes a spy for them. Soon, he becomes a top spy--able to sneak back and forth across the lines and report back about the German movements--hardly noticed since he's a very small boy. But the Russian officers are adamant--no matter how valuable he's become, the boy MUST have a chance at a normal childhood. So they try repeatedly to send him to safety--and again and again he escapes and continues working for the war effort. Where all this goes is profoundly sad--but also, in an odd way, exceptionally artistic and lyrical. Andrey Tarkovskiy did an amazing job here--directing his first, and perhaps best, film. A few of the great film techniques is the way they showed Ivan's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the nice use of flashbacks and the emotions in the film. Well worth seeing--but certainly NOT a feel-good film--which makes sense because the war was so wasteful and brutal.
By the way, an odd thing about the translation of the film with English subtitles. Instead of the word 'sir', soldiers address their superiors as 'your majesty'!
"Ivan's Childhood" is about a boy who was left orphaned during the German invasion of his country. He is eventually found by the Russian army and he becomes a spy for them. Soon, he becomes a top spy--able to sneak back and forth across the lines and report back about the German movements--hardly noticed since he's a very small boy. But the Russian officers are adamant--no matter how valuable he's become, the boy MUST have a chance at a normal childhood. So they try repeatedly to send him to safety--and again and again he escapes and continues working for the war effort. Where all this goes is profoundly sad--but also, in an odd way, exceptionally artistic and lyrical. Andrey Tarkovskiy did an amazing job here--directing his first, and perhaps best, film. A few of the great film techniques is the way they showed Ivan's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the nice use of flashbacks and the emotions in the film. Well worth seeing--but certainly NOT a feel-good film--which makes sense because the war was so wasteful and brutal.
By the way, an odd thing about the translation of the film with English subtitles. Instead of the word 'sir', soldiers address their superiors as 'your majesty'!