better than the German critics said, but no history lesson

Rating: 6/10 (11 May 2001)

The only reason why I went to see this movie was my neighbor who had a walk-on as Russian soldier in it. But I thought, the whole movie was better than the German critics said. It was quite perfectly made. I was so entertained that I even missed the scene with my neighbor. But PLEASE, don't try to learn history through a movie like this! It is for ENTERTAINMENT! Jean-Jacques Annaud said himself, that he put the emphasis on the duel - he only exploits selected historic details to set the atmosphere for the antagonists. I see it as a kind of western movie. And have you ever learned many real historical facts from a western?