An accurate depiction of small village life in Pre WWI Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Rating: 9/10 (9 October 2009)

I attended a screening of this marvelous film last night here in NYC and was mesmerized by its beauty and historical accuracy. This film has nothing to do with Nazis WHAT-SO-EVER! And to make any correlation to Nazi character or movement is insulting to the filmmaker and the film. I cringed in disbelief last night when the Q & A moderator asked such an idiotic question as this, lowering this film to the lowest common denominator = Nazis. Obviously some people have baggage they need to leave at the door before seeing this masterpiece. The film hit home for me personally because my maternal great grand-mother grew up in a small village like this one in Croatia near the Hungarian border. That village also had a land Baron that employed nearly half the residences as was depicted in the film. My great grandmother's brother was the town black-smith. The film's Baron was a carbon copy of what I know of my great grandmother's Baron. He was kind and concerned about the villagers by loaning money when needed and making sure the village had its social necessities. The film's story kept me riveted but the edgy character of many of the villagers was a personality trait that I recognized in many of my older Croatian relatives. If you enjoy period pieces that are like looking thru a time machine, this film is for you. I highly recommend this film. My own family history ends when my great grandfather was shot and killed by a sniper on the Italian front 2 days before the WWI ended. too bad...