Wenn ich ein Gewehr hätte

A rare example of a movie that shows the veracity of WWII in a rural Slovak context, without any ideological/heroic ballast typical for most war movies. There is a grain of hyperbolism in several scenes, in most cases well applied. It reminds me of the stories people that lived through the war as kids told me. About grenades and small weapons collected by boys, about "Amerikans" - return migrants form the US, about the common soldiers and common people, about the ticking life under the veil of war. This in fact is a Slovak movie, and represents the very strong Slovak new wave. This includes the works of Jakubisko, Havetta, Uher, and the Academy winning movie The Shop on Main Street.

i am privileged to be the first one to comment on this amazing gem..i just watched it...like most others from the beautiful category of the "Czech new wave", it doesn't leave u with words for easy description.. there is a lot to tell still..the child's perspective..their little secrets,joys,deeds...and their take on the adult world..and the serious adult background where their lives are played out..the child's perspective on the adult affairs.. the political commentary is unmissable..though i have to watch it again to have a clear take on that..all of Czech new wave is so strongly political..and the relevance is only ever-increasing... and the cinematography...absolutely dictated by the children who are the protagonists in this movie..camera is never still..always moving..close-up...the angles..perspectives.. all from the world of children..it looks way ahead of its time..Czech new wave was...this one has stood the test of time..and plus it has a lot to learn from for cinematographers i am sure.. the music..one can watch this movie just for the amazing music it has..mellow..joyful..sombre..way too good.. and the effect of B & W images...the whole film conveys nostalgia and emotions in a very timeless non-clichéd way... anyone yearning to be taken back to their childhoods for a brief moment may give this amazing movie a try..and seriously recommended for lovers of the moving image..