This movie should be about Ukrainians, not Poles.

Rating: 5/10 (12 October 2011)

Finally - finally a major motion picture that paints a sobering picture of the brutality of Stalin's gulags. Even though roughly equal numbers of innocents died under Stalin as did under Hitler, this brings the current score in terms of major motion picture to something like: Holocaust/Hitler: 84,245, Stalin: 1 or maybe 2. Anyway, it's a start.
The movie follows a small group of a prisoners on their long walk / escape out of Siberia to freedom. Amazingly, a significant percentage of the group are Poles. One other is a Latvian, and another an American. To say that this mix would be unusual in a Gulag in 1939-1940 might be the understatement of the year. Why, by comparison, are Ukrainians, who would make up a noticeable segment (if not an outright majority or close to it) of political prisoners in an actual Gulags strangely absent? The story would be historically plausible were the actors Ukrainian nationalists taken from western Ukraine. The Soviets would not have bothered to send a polish military man (as the lead character was) all the way to Siberia--certainly one accused of sabotage and spying, as ours here was, would have likely been shot outright. However, I guess it's hard enough to get audiences, even "enlightened" ones as might go watch this film to warm up to the story at all, so the director had to anchor the main characters as Poles, something that western audiences might be able to latch onto easily. It's a pity nevertheless.
While the gulag scenes were obviously not filmed in Siberia (and nor, I'm guessing, was any of the film) they were more or less well done. However, the film as a whole lacked authenticity and believability. Even if you believe the story to be a metaphor for the whole soviet experience or something, it still should be told well, and I can't say that it was. The characters are remarkably well fed. It is difficult to get a sense of space. And, crucially, it doesn't feel like a walk.
I've done some long walks in tough conditions. The most obvious thing is that when you are tired, you walk in a file, not abreast, as walking in a single line saves brain energy as you just look at the feet in front of you. the characters here must have found that to be not photogenic.
so, 10/10 for the idea and concept, but, alas, 3/10 for execution. it just didn't resonate. i don't think it was a good parable of the struggles under communism, and, by its focus on poles, i don't think it's particularly good history, either. finally, despite what some critics say, i don't really think the characters flesh out that well.
5/10 stars.