Una tragedia optimista

Despite its being a phenomenal success both critically and financially when first released in Russia this altogether remarkable film of Samson Samsonov deserves far greater recognition in the West. It is shot by Vladimir Monakhov who did such sterling work on Bondarchuk's first film 'Fate of a Man'. As it is filmed in Sovscope 70 it would obviously achieve a far greater effect if shown on the big screen but that possibility, sadly, seems remote. Both Boris Andreyev and Margarita Volodina are stupendous in their roles of the Marine and the Commissar. Stunning achievement.