The story was previously made in 1949 by Aleksandr Ivanov, but that version was banned and not released until after the death of Stalin.
Based on a short story of the same name by Emmanuil Kazakevich, the film shows the work of Soviet scouts behind German lines during Operation Bagration in WW2.
When Sgt. Anikanov (Aleksei Kravchenco) is diverting the German soldiers into the wood, he is wearing a Snorry camera rig in front of him to make the scene more dramatic, especially when he falls dead. Darren Aronofsky's DoP Matthew Libatique makes extensive use of the Snorry rig in PI (1988) and REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (2000) to confuse and instill fear in the spectator.
Aleksei Kravchenco had his 1st. role made his debut performing the main character of Flyora Gayshun in another Russian war film: COME AND SEE (1985). He was just 16 and he was greatly damaged by what happens in the film.