Gem of a film

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 2005)

A French colonel is asked to take a crucial position from Germany in the First World War. The only problem is every one from top to bottom knows that it's an impossible task. The reason this campaign has to be carried out is that some promotions are based on the favorable outcome. In the middle of the campaign half the soldiers decide to back out and General in a personal vendetta orders the stationed army to fire at its own army. The orders are never carried out but army loses the campaign. The general can't take the defeat and asks colonel to pick three men from each battalion and court marshals them. This initiates a crude and realistic drama of personal politics and human misery.
This movie is brilliant. Message of the film comes through in the first 5 minutes and keeps intact until a very sad ending. I felt miserable at the end of the film. It's a masterpiece. Dialogues are appropriate and narration is tight. Acting is world class. Direction is minimum and works in favor of the movie. It is not an anti-war film. It is about corruption of human minds. You just cannot afford to miss this film. I think this is my favorite by Kubrick.