I finally saw this movie online w/English subtitles, as I could not find it anywhere else... PM me if you want the link, or just go to WatchCorn. Anyway, as an American viewer, I was deeply impressed with how accurate and time-specific everything seemed to be. The details definitely went noticed by me, an amateur military historian, yet the story itself was superb and the acting was great.
It seems to me many big budget films have lukewarm scripts and a lot of production value. This had a great story, partly because it is based on real events, and excellent production value. For such a small budget (crowdfunding) it looks like a Fury, or a Hacksaw Ridge, but without the gore. (on a side note, I find it interesting that many Russian war films have little graphic violence, while American films are bathed it gore and blood.)
Throughout much of the exposition, the viewer gets to know the men in Panfilov's company and prepares for the battle. Then the rest of the film is action, which is highly realistic; maybe a little too much. Several times the Germans attack, and eventually things get a little confusing and the pacing may seem slow/off, but that is the point. The nature of such an battle seen in the film would create confusion and chaos, and if it seems improbable that 28 men could hold off 50men + 24 tanks, it isn't. Things are shown from the different perspectives of the 28 men, making the battle seem longer, or shorter depending on how fast-paced you like things.
Big credit goes to the director and those involved in producing the film, since they stay (mostly Im assuming, since this the reality battle is debated) true to history, and go to great lengths in recreating the lives of the soldiers. Soundtrack is also good.
It seems to me many big budget films have lukewarm scripts and a lot of production value. This had a great story, partly because it is based on real events, and excellent production value. For such a small budget (crowdfunding) it looks like a Fury, or a Hacksaw Ridge, but without the gore. (on a side note, I find it interesting that many Russian war films have little graphic violence, while American films are bathed it gore and blood.)
Throughout much of the exposition, the viewer gets to know the men in Panfilov's company and prepares for the battle. Then the rest of the film is action, which is highly realistic; maybe a little too much. Several times the Germans attack, and eventually things get a little confusing and the pacing may seem slow/off, but that is the point. The nature of such an battle seen in the film would create confusion and chaos, and if it seems improbable that 28 men could hold off 50men + 24 tanks, it isn't. Things are shown from the different perspectives of the 28 men, making the battle seem longer, or shorter depending on how fast-paced you like things.
Big credit goes to the director and those involved in producing the film, since they stay (mostly Im assuming, since this the reality battle is debated) true to history, and go to great lengths in recreating the lives of the soldiers. Soundtrack is also good.