What is nauseatingly patriotic?
I watched it in it's entirety some time back.
I does not fall into the "nauseatingly patriotic" model, in terms of either the Soviet-era "manufactured history" or the most recent Putin-push media, in my view. Rather, I would place it in the "post-Soviet era perspectives on the Russian version of the greatest generation" model.
(How's that for twisting and turning any working definition of film genres?)
Stalin was reputed to have said: "It takes a brave man to be a coward in the Red Army."
The post-Soviet perspectives run more like: It took a brave man to be an honest patriot in the Red Army.
The title of the movie is actually a reference only to the closing scene, the last bit of personal justice when our hero meets up, on the road to Berlin at the end of the war, with a prior comrade who had betrayed him in testimony before a military tribunal early in the war. Think of a Russianized version of that scene late in Band of Brothers where Major Winters crosses paths with Captain Sobel, and demands his salute.
The movie has a fair number of interesting combat scenes, but is mostly a human interest story of a man, falsely accused and convicted, who despite being sentenced to death continues to fight honorably in service of his country, earning the respect of those around him. In US cinematic art this kind of story is usually an adolescent story, but for the Russians it seems to be a very adult topic.
It's a good story, pretty well told. I'd recommend it for those who enjoy stories of the human interest side of soldiering.
My $0.02 USD worth. Your tankage may vary.
-Mark
(aka: Mk 1)
finds his interest in WWII air-combat gaming has rekindled.
