This is the last article you can read this month
You can read more article this month
You can read more articles this month
Sorry your limit is up for this month
Reset on:
Please help support the Morning Star by subscribing here
Stalingrad (15)
Directed by Fedor Bondarchuk
2 Stars
Stalingrad remains the bloodiest and most decisive battle that turned the tide of war against nazism and led to the liberation of the world.
After the massive mobilisation of the Red Army, its forces had to take the city in hand-to-hand combat because Hitler refused to surrender.
So how come Fedor Bondarchuk manages, with all the most advanced Dolby and 3D stereophonic cameras on an Imax screen, to produce such a disappointing film?
Simply because, after the initial amazing attack, it concentrates on the relationships between five soldiers and a women trying to save their building.
This is complemented by a German officer and his Russian whore having to deal with their own personal problems, as well as the Soviet six.
It looks like half-price Hollywood, with stereotypical characters that appear as cardboard as the wobbly sets and the sentimental voiceover.
The heroes of Stalingrad deserve better, especially among audiences who have no knowledge of the 30 million Soviets who perished to save democracy.
Jeff Sawtell
