Harrowing

Rating: Null/10 (22 July 2003)

This is not a pleasant film to watch but it's excellent. It shows the Battle of Stalingrad exactly as it was. Reading Anthony Beevor's book on Stalingrad prompted me to watch this film plus the fact that I have always been interested in Russia. Bob Hoskins must have studied films of Khrushchev from the time he was Soviet premier. The scene where Khrushchev embraces Vasili Zaitsev looks remarkably like the newsreel of the real Khrushchev embracing Yuri Gagarin after his space flight. Enemy at the Gates contrasts with Saving Private Ryan. Saving Private Ryan is about democracy fighting totalitarianism. Enemy at the Gates is about the clash between two merciless totalitarian systems. Rachel Weisz is spot on casting as Tanya. She's a very talented actress and she's got the right kind of slavic appearance.