Batalion

Entertainment rules this action splashed flick with the backdrop of history giving it a slight nod. Great acting, dialogue and scenes make it a lively watch, but if you are looking for a docu-history film, then you'll have a lot to criticize.

During the First World War, Russia indeed recruited and formed some 5,000 women into a handful of battalions and detachments in hope of creating a catalyst for the war-weary male military units on the front. In fact, two all-female battalions entered into combat but not to the extent that we enjoy in this 2015 remake of fighting on the front.

Battalion, however, doesn't disappoint as we ride the action-packed train realizing that it was never an attempt to rewrite history, but rather something, perhaps 2 hours that will be worth the viewing.

I was very moved during this film. How historically accurate is a moot point. As a movie it was very realistic & obviously quite a lot of money was spent on it. This is reflected in the costumes & battle scenes. I thought it was an excellent movie & one that gave the centre stage to women at war as participating hero's rather than just background support for the male 'hero's'. It bears re-watching & makes me want to read up on the history of these ladies. The actresses themselves were fantastic & very believable. The story really engaged me. The fact that I was unfamiliar with any of the cast did not take away form the movie itself actually it added to it as one didn't know who would survive & who wouldn't. Oddly enough though I don't speak Russian the subtitles were excellent & makes the experience of watching it even more believable. Though it's sad & upsetting in places it bears re-watching. Recommended!

Surviving WWI was a feat in itself, yet here we have a story where Russia sent woman into battle against German forces depicted here in the film to the point I found myself wondering how close on the brink of madness was the world at that time, not that woman were in battle but seeing those very woman and their dire situation while emotional integrity still prevailed against unfathomable duress, pointedly stated with the best line from the film when Evdokiya Kolokolchikova, spoke, 'We're going there to die.' Very good acting and filming direction, with tense trench warfare. A noted point in history hopefully not forgotten.

In 1917 Russia was at war – with Germany and itself. The troops at the front were war weary and being run by 'Soldiers Committees', the Tsar had been removed and the Provisional Government were fighting a losing battle for the hearts and minds of the people and the soldiers. So Minister of War, Alexander Kerensky, was charged with raising an all female combat unit. The first one was the '1st Russian Women's Battalion of Death' and it was raised and led by a feisty soldier who had already been decorated – fighting alongside men – this was Maria Bochareva.

She ruled with an iron fist and this is her story as told through the women who fought with her. They were one of only two units that were sent to combat and this film portrays what they did, the obstacles they had to overcome and the men they went to help.

Now history purists may take exception at some of the events here but the Kerensky Offensive (which they were in) is actually done fairly well. The acting is all rather good and the materiel seemed fine too. I have seen one review which called it 'modernist propaganda' but this is 'based' on facts. A full film on the real life of Maria Bochareva would have been a great idea too from the little I have read of her. The film portrays most of the women as being heroines though and she is not set at centre stage. This though is still a film very much worth the effort and as such I am happy to recommend.

This is an actual true history with an awesome performance from the actor, a very realistic depiction of the situation of that time Russia. Image, FX, acting, historic accuracy, scenarios, guns, uniforms, all to the perfect reproduction. The story is amazing and it will make you care about the people on it, you will really suffer with their death in the horror of the trench and open field charges of WWI. You will follow the formation of a female battalion in the awakening of the soviet revolution. Created to encourage the Russian men in the front who were refusing to fight after years of dying and fail to push the Germans back, in a war they didn't care for a ruthless dictator that was the zar. The women were there for idealism or revenge for the loss of their loved ones. They went, and fought proving themselves truly warriors inspiring other women to fight for their land and people, not the rulers. With this scenario, you will find that with all the reason the men had to not fight, here, they look like a bunch of cowards and more girls than the girls of the story.

Piece of art, a truly one. The kind of war movies i like.

Recommended, not a second of waste.