介绍:
Between the summer and winter of 1942, nearly two million lives perished on the battlefield of Stalingrad. One of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare, the battle of Stalingrad has been immortalized in movies by Germans, Russians, British and American filmmakers. The latest of such efforts is the work of Russian director Fedor Bondarchuk.
The story by Ilya Tilkin revolves around two Russian girls with starkly different fates. Young Katya is protected by a group of Russian soldiers who defended a house on the bank of the Volga River. Meanwhile, Masha is protected by a German officer who led the attack on the house. During the stalemate between the two sides, the relation between the girls and their protectors transformed through different stages.
The opening and closing scenes are excellent showcases of what IMAX 3D cinema can offer. The shot of Russian soldiers charging into battle while on fire is particularly touching and jolting. These aren't the only two stand-out eye-catchers in the film; photographer Maksim Osadchiy also made the best of IMAX, presenting each frame like a painting. Similar exhibition of such filming skills is only found in the works of Dong Jinsong, who shot "11 Flowers" with director Wang Xiaoshuai.
The tone in the pictures strengthens the emotions in the story, and these emotions are typical in Russian literature. The character of Katya represents innocence and is immediately identified as a symbol of Russia. But a less conspicuous symbol is found in Masha, who is, in fact, a far better symbol of the Russian spirit. Living in a German-occupied part of the city, Masha is coerced by the German officer. But with her beauty and endurance, she was able to charm her persecutor and remind him of the peaceful days back home. In this way, the conquered became the conqueror, which is exactly what happened on the Eastern Front, where the German invaders were "embraced" and gradually smothered by the vast territory and harsh environment of Russia.
Director Fedor Bondarchuk is less deliberate on his anti-war agenda, but more determined to present an intimate and humanistic perspective. His attempt to revisit the historical battle via human relations is quite innovative and effective, especially the one between the German occupier and his captive. However, on the other side of the front, the director has had some difficulty sorting out the relations between Katya and the five Russian soldiers; that's the only and biggest setback in this otherwise spectacular piece.
On a scale from one to ten, Fedor Bondarchuk's "Stalingrad" deserves a seven.
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