wiltvid

So far, this movie is only available in Russian Language. I believe this movie will come out as successful as FORTRESS OF WAR, THE BOMBER, ADMIRAL, and a few more titles, that have been released with English subtitles. I watched the ones above all in their earlier Russian language version, because I couldn't wait. So did I view this one. The new Russian movies about world war 2 are way more forward with the facts, than the old soviet ones are. NKVD troops (acting on Stalins direct edicts) are brutal and merciless. They don't seem to care, if their subjects are guilty of the crime or not : desertion, collaborating with the enemy, or disobeying soviet orders. Facts of disproof seem to be a mere nuisance to them. A high ranking soviet Brigade General ( our protagonist)just went through such NKVD treatment with a new set of golden teeth, the old ones have been beaten out of him. His expertise is desperately needed in building a new defenseline to slow down the German advance towards Moscow in the month of July. The year is 1941, and the Wehrmacht seems to be unstoppable. Our protagonist acts quickly, organizing a new defensive line on the Dneiper River, with the city of Smolonsk in his back.Something really hard to do, because 100 000's of Refugee's are clogging the roads. The troops at his disposal are some 45mm anti tank units, demoralized but rallied troops, a batch of conscript with very little experience a understrenght regiment of regular red army equipped with anti tank rifles, and a Recon unit equipped with BA-65 armored cars. Also an armored train for artillery support, very few anti aircraft guns and no air support. There is a little fortress on the main highway, buying him some time. The Germans don't loose much time to through everything nasty, at his little army: Squadrons of Stuka's and Me-109's, Dozens of Mark II and III tanks, heavy 150 mm artillery and armored SdKfz armored personal carriers. No substitute equipment at play here, like we are used from older warflicks. Yes, the ruski film makers use a lot of CGI and other clever special effects but the battles look pretty authentic to an old war movie buff like me. Also the acting is great, the actors are believable doing their period characters. I don't know, how a war movie currently could be made any better. This one scores with me in the same league as "The Pacific" "Band of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan ".

I own season 1, 2 and 3, all have English subtitles. Very easy on the eyes, and in big letters. The Story (based on the historical events) A group of Polish soldiers manages to escape German occupied Poland, after the capitulation of their army in September 1939. They are being trained in Britain as commando strike force specialists. After many month of training, they are being parachuted back to Poland to build resistance and sabotage cells. The movie does not only tell their story, but also that of their friends associates and families. Doing resistance work in Poland is extremely dangerous. The SS and Gestapo acts mercilessly and ruthlessly to any of their attempts of defiance. This miniseries is in no way a propaganda product, but a closely authentic portrait of a dreadful period. The German side is portrait fairly, they are not demonised nor dehumanized, but portrait as victims of their time. Off course there is now way to excuse the brutality and the atrocities, that some of them committed. The three whole seasons allow for some very interesting character developments,that don't fall into a formulas, some turns and twists are refreshingly unanticipated. The story has a nail biting suspenseful flow. If you have planned to watch one episode per evening, you will catch yourself watching 3 or 4. If you want to compare this miniseries to American or British productions, this miniseries scores on exceptional good acting, scriptwriting and historical authenticity. It does lack the huge budget and special effects of BAND OF BROTHERS, but does not have to hide behind the British series like FOYLES WAR, A PIECE OF CAKE, WINGS OF WAR and ISLAND OF WAR, just to name a few. For Polish TV, the computer CGI effects are quite awesome and inventive. There is some excellent work being done, by blending original black and white scenes in remade color scenes, with our main protagonists acting in it. I hope the seasons will continue, and go right up to the end of the war. I'm currently watching the end of season 2, and the German Wehrmacht has just started to invade the Sovietunion. I also noted that this Polish production is still using Stars from the time of the cold war, together with the younger generation. It works great ! As a German Canadian viewer, I noted that the polish actors portraying the Germans, doing an excellent job. You can take note of Austrian, Bavarian, Saxon and lower German accents, and follies. There are many films made about the Warsaw Ghetto, this movie goes into great detail to describe the tragedy. I would go so far and say, like no other. The viewer will also experience an ambiance of fear and desperation, as they will identifying themselves with the protagonists. At this stage, the Germans are still winning on all fronts, the German defeat at the gates of Moscow and Stalingrad has not happened yet..... Yet a believe in humanity and a final victory, keeps our protagonists not to despair.

This movie is a timeless masterpiece, and one of Germany's top 10 rated films. It will draw the viewer with surprising frankness , and bold actions of 2 young men of an unlikely friendship, coming of age in the 1940's Germany. Drafted from Highschool to the German Military, both of them going through a character Transition: Werner, a more sensible person, turns more and more into a sceptic by witnessing how his ideals getting destroyed by the application of a ruthless fascist system where he has to be part of it. Gilbert, also intelligent, a man of action and a Go Getter develops a passion for everything Military, that eventually will challenge his friendship to Werner. The viewer will experience both of them as likable characters at first, and will go with them through a transition .Eventually feel the painful decision process they are forced to undergo. The gap between them widen and resolves a final movie climax. Being a complex psychological Drama, the film does not lack action or battle scenes, which were masterfully staged and ahead of their times. Using newly invented filmographic artwork, a realistic ambiance leaves the viewer in awe, even today with it's special effects and CGI technologies. Many elderly Germans who I had the pleasure sharing this movie with, attested it as being an authentic capture of the period. Made in 1965, the memory of the 40's where fresh and painful, the production used people with first hand experiences, to left no detail missing. For most movie directors using flashbacks of a flashback are usually a No No to use in blockbuster films. Surprisingly it works very well in this film. It does, because it helps the viewer to understand their character transitions from High School to the dramatic combat scenes. Both of them are not the typical blind Nazi followers, nor fanatics, nevertheless prisoners of their times. Sometimes even swimming against the popular tide of fascism, by beating up their schools Hitler Youth leader, for being a cruel prick.

If they would have been born 20 years later, they would have blended right into our social fabric, as perhaps intellectuals (Werner) or aggressive businessman (Gilbert).

Some viewers criticized this film for not using authentic WW2 rifles, pointing towards the AK-47, allegedly used in this film by German soldiers. When in fact they where "Sturmgewehr 44s", with whom not many people are familiar with. This Gun was issued by few German units in 1945, and described as one of Hitlers so called Wonder weapons to change the outcome of the war.

The Actors and the Acting As a German raised Canadian, I love those Actors, because I grew up seeing them on German TV for half of my lifetime, and recently again, because the internet and online shopping makes it possible to reunite with them. Most of them can still be seen on new German TV productions today. For me, they where simply the best. Does a wage of x-million $ per film, make a Hollywood actor better, than an actor from another country who does quality work with a moderate wage ? I guess only American movie fans can answer that. For me, they just created one of my most favourite films. My Dad , a veteran of age 84 and I, are in accord on this opinion, as for my part I have listened a lot but not enough of my past 55 years to him, specially interested in the wartime. At first very reluctant to tell me much, my insistence paid of over the years. He grew up like a normal child from a middle class farming family, enjoying the seasons, Fishing, hunting and swimming in the ancient Hessel river. Joined the Hitler Youth, because almost every young boy did. That meant privilege's like participating in motor sport and glider plane classes. Our farming community lived in a quite and tranquil place of Germany, with not much going on. There was plenty of food on the farm, many family gatherings and celebrations, it seemed like time would not touch this little peaceful and enchanting world. That idyll all ended in the second year of the war, just like it did in the movie. If my Dad says the movie got it accurately, than I do believe him