I found this gem on a random search of one of my favorite genres, Russian war movies.
I hesitated because it was Hungarian made and I have seen some bad Hungarian war films but this one piqued my interest after I watched a few minutes.
It touches a part of the war not often seen in films. Mainly non- German troops that tool part in the invasion of Russia. There were Romanian, Hungarian, Italian and even a smattering of anti communist French troops that took part.
The protagonist Lombos, is a Hungarian soldier fighting for the Axis. He is prevented from going on home on leave by some unknown bureaucratic mistake and ends up a prisoner of the Russians. He is forced to walk through mine fields at risk of stepping on one to find safe paths for his captors. A old man who appears to be a Hungarian fighting for the Russians offers advice to Lombos as he deals with various challenges leading to a point where he decides to escape.
I thought the acting was excellent and battle scenes well depicted. There were some minor issues such as the protagonist Lombos going from unshaven to shaven at random points as I would expect as a POW's opportunity to shave were slim and none. I also noted a couple bodies that breathed and could not deduce if it was late fall or early spring? Either way I would not expect there to be crickets chirping at night. I still thought the overall quality was good.
Where I maybe got a bit confused was the symbolism of the old man who seemed to be everywhere Lombos went and apparently was not a real person. Was he the devil? Lombos's conscience? And why does Lombos open his journal telling Elza he has decided to kill her?
My conclusion is that by staying loyal to the Hungarian army which is on the losing side, he ironically makes it home via the Red Army as he awakens from his botched suicide attempt and is discovered by a Red Army unit about to enter Hungary. The Russians think he is Russian and take action to help him
As I said, the symbolism of the old man and how Lombos ends up where he does at the end confuses, but I am easily confused. :-)
Kind of an odd plot but overall a good movie.
I hesitated because it was Hungarian made and I have seen some bad Hungarian war films but this one piqued my interest after I watched a few minutes.
It touches a part of the war not often seen in films. Mainly non- German troops that tool part in the invasion of Russia. There were Romanian, Hungarian, Italian and even a smattering of anti communist French troops that took part.
The protagonist Lombos, is a Hungarian soldier fighting for the Axis. He is prevented from going on home on leave by some unknown bureaucratic mistake and ends up a prisoner of the Russians. He is forced to walk through mine fields at risk of stepping on one to find safe paths for his captors. A old man who appears to be a Hungarian fighting for the Russians offers advice to Lombos as he deals with various challenges leading to a point where he decides to escape.
I thought the acting was excellent and battle scenes well depicted. There were some minor issues such as the protagonist Lombos going from unshaven to shaven at random points as I would expect as a POW's opportunity to shave were slim and none. I also noted a couple bodies that breathed and could not deduce if it was late fall or early spring? Either way I would not expect there to be crickets chirping at night. I still thought the overall quality was good.
Where I maybe got a bit confused was the symbolism of the old man who seemed to be everywhere Lombos went and apparently was not a real person. Was he the devil? Lombos's conscience? And why does Lombos open his journal telling Elza he has decided to kill her?
My conclusion is that by staying loyal to the Hungarian army which is on the losing side, he ironically makes it home via the Red Army as he awakens from his botched suicide attempt and is discovered by a Red Army unit about to enter Hungary. The Russians think he is Russian and take action to help him
As I said, the symbolism of the old man and how Lombos ends up where he does at the end confuses, but I am easily confused. :-)
Kind of an odd plot but overall a good movie.