Ballada o soldate (1959)'s comments

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JKman

Hmm.. A few years since I saw this movie, and just thinking of the last scenes makes me emotional.
...Well that is art, I suppose.

12 years 2 months ago

i really loved the double exposure scene on the train after the protagonist separates from the girl. her figure juxtaposed against those rushing birch trees was highly romantic and profoundly reflected ideas of human regret and memories of fondness.

12 years 10 months ago

Dieguito

Poetic movie! Spiritually relevant, a gift to the soul!

12 years 8 months ago

quattuor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2ZFe7XGwt8

3 years 6 months ago

iCheckFilms

Wow! That was one wonderful movie. :)

11 years 6 months ago

Gershwin

Great cinematography!

11 years 9 months ago

avatud2013

I myself have trouble describing politically motivated fantasy as poetic and beautiful. Next I'll see "Birth of a Nation" and "Triumph of the Will" described thus. :)

Ok, I can understand the description "beautiful" aesthetically, as in beautifully made and depicting beautiful emotions, but regarding the naivety of the characters, any sort of "liberation" taking place instead of rape and pillaging, the ways soviet soldiers were motivated to fight, how well they were stocked, what they were eating, what was their relationship and interaction with any sort officials like, etc, this should probably be in Butler's Fantasy list first of all.

Western support for this kind of fantasy-making about the nation being some heroic liberators has probably not had an insignificant role in creating the situation where we are now - many Russians are still convinced they are "liberating" Ukraine from American nazis at the moment by bombing hospitals and schools, sending criminals and marauders to the front, mass-executing civilians, deporting Ukrainian children to be reeducated as Russians.

I mean I am a huge advocate of the importance of fantasy, but I think this particular kind of fantasy depicted in this movie of innocent and heroic Russian liberators has not played out too well, has had some consequences. I hope I don't seem too political. No intention of talking about that, simply about facts as far as I know them and morals and ethics in film criticism.

Should we just praise such movies without highlighting the fantastical elements in the light of such further developments? Something for us as film critics to figure out I'm sure.

1 year 2 months ago