tauritraveler
Most of the reviewers missed the point. This is a movie about young Russians gaining a vivid appreciation of their history and their grandparents that fought for their nation's sovereignty.While the main character has an academic interest in the Great Patriotic War (WWII), the war and those that fought are only as valuable to them as the money their artifacts will earn. The elderly woman appears out of nowhere, representing Mother Russia, gives them milk, and leads them to the lake that sends them back in time. Mother Russia herself teaches them to appreciate the sacrifices of those that have gone before.Unity and Nationalism are strong themes as the 4 say more than once that they have to return to the lake together and bring Sokolov's cigarette case (the past) with them in order to move forward into the future. True to non-American movies, some good people have to die. I was just surprised it wasn't one of the 4 young men.I liked it and would recommend it to others.Background: I have watched many foreign movies and speak Spanish, English and Russian. I have been to other countries and come to understand that unless you become familiar with the histories and cultures of other nations, you will see their history incorrectly through your own cultural eyes.
hte-trasme
This production started with a good concept: a group of young contemporary men who dig up World War II memorabilia for its cash and souvenir value -- one of whom is a skinhead with a swastika tattoo - - are magically transported back in time to the war itself. While the realization looks very good and I don't have any problems with the script itself, its a long time between sections of dialogue, and it ends up seeming as if the characters and situations have never been fully developed -- which is a shame given such a potentially interesting situation. The period battles are very impressively recreated, but I couldn't help getting the feeling that the producers were so caught up with this aspect of the productions that some of the things that make a really satisfying movie were left out. The love story that there is seems sketched -- the girl resists and then is suddenly completely in love with the hero. In the end, the protagonists feel the terror of battle over glorious-sounding music and return home humbled. Even this feels like it happened so quickly after they were so recently just trying to get themselves out of there, and it seems like sentimentalization of the "Great Patriotic War" as it is known in Russia. In a film that is almost two hours long there is really no need for events to seem as rushed as they do, due to set pieces being given precedence at the expense of characters and scenes. Though it's certainly not a complete failure, given the premise it seems like a missed opportunity.
njumeil
This movie is not about time travel. It is about the present and the past. There is no present without the past. If you forget, destroy your past in your heart - you and your nation have no future. Cherep (Skull) is a modern radical nationalist in the modern Russia. The other three guys represent other parts of Russian society: student, that gave up on studies for some quick buck, rapper-anti-fa and fourth one - "golden boy". Lost generation, but with a hope.Their world is going to turn upside down. They all get into the past, to the middle of WWII, where they grandfathers fight with Hitler's Germany. Lessons are to be learned for a present and for the future to be saved.Imagine someone who gives his life for the his motherland to be told: "In the XXI century, men, dressed in black, will walk on the streets of Moscow and shout "Heil Hitler." If you don't get it, switch "Moscow" to "New York" or the city you live in, and you will understand.
wwwsilveroil
I had some expectations about this movie because found it quite interesting to see about modern guys happened to appear in actions of the World War II. But I found that movie is not all about that. And I wasn't disappointed. The movie is truly very original, it contains humor, sadness, love and war altogether and some important messages. Yes, special effects there are not great, but they shouldn't be, because this film isn't about that, this is about the tragedy that war is. This is about not forgetting what the war is, never forgetting. And this message is staying in your head for a long time after the end of the film. Also I think actors did their job quite well(specifically a nurse girl, I was so charmed of her), especially taking into account that for most of them it was the first relatively big movie(for Russia of course)
AD
