Based on the novel by Emmanuil Kazakevich, The Star is a story focusing on a Soviet reconnaissance unit comprising of seven soldiers sent on a scouting mission behind enemy lines. The enemy is the German armed forces and the line is Eastern Poland, late summer 1944. The reconnaissance is required in order to gather intelligence concerning current German positions and strengths of counter attack indications.
The scouting skills are demonstrated in a ghostly atmosphere effectively using the forest environment as cover. The film moves along at a nice pace and the story widens upon detection and advances through the interception of the scouts by the SS. What actually kills the scouts is their need to obtain a wireless in order to transmit their discovery of military information back to divisional headquarters. This they succeed at the cost of their lives.
The film conspicuously emphasises that the soldiers fighting in the Soviet army were young men. This is demonstrated through the youthful and fresh appearances of the soldiers. Also, the film acknowledges the participation of young women enlisted into the Soviet army. The director, Nikolai Lebedev, deliberately indicates the human cost of war and the justification for the conflict and defeating their enemy. This point also exists in the screen play by Yevgeny Grigoriev, Nikolai Lebedev and Alexander Borodyansky and performed well by the actors. Their is no joy expressed in killing and regardless of nationality each life lost appears to strengthen the sadness of war.
The Star has a satisfactory running time of 97 minutes. If I had to categories this picture it reminds me of "A Bridge On The River Kwai" or "The Guns Of Navarone" and "The Dirty Dozen". The qualities or attributes of hero's during the second world war. The Star, in the same manner, highlights the sacrifices of the Soviet nation. The style of the film is in the mold of many modern combat pictures. Also, cinematography concluding the demise of our screen hero's simulating "Saving Private Ryan", Brotherhood or even "The Alamo"! For these reasons a picture of this quality and authenticity deserved a marketed international release.
The distraction of the sub-plot love story between the scout leader Travkin and wireless operator Katya did not several damage the accomplishment of the film. Even though this plot could be described as embarrassing and unnecessary, it helps apprehend, in a mildly unconvincing manner, the youthful conditions of still being a teenager, regardless of the terrifying surroundings. Evidently, the characters are between 17-20 years of age, expressing innocence and spirit of adolescence. "The Star" is effective, sharp and abrupt, at the same time as providing tension.
The scouting skills are demonstrated in a ghostly atmosphere effectively using the forest environment as cover. The film moves along at a nice pace and the story widens upon detection and advances through the interception of the scouts by the SS. What actually kills the scouts is their need to obtain a wireless in order to transmit their discovery of military information back to divisional headquarters. This they succeed at the cost of their lives.
The film conspicuously emphasises that the soldiers fighting in the Soviet army were young men. This is demonstrated through the youthful and fresh appearances of the soldiers. Also, the film acknowledges the participation of young women enlisted into the Soviet army. The director, Nikolai Lebedev, deliberately indicates the human cost of war and the justification for the conflict and defeating their enemy. This point also exists in the screen play by Yevgeny Grigoriev, Nikolai Lebedev and Alexander Borodyansky and performed well by the actors. Their is no joy expressed in killing and regardless of nationality each life lost appears to strengthen the sadness of war.
The Star has a satisfactory running time of 97 minutes. If I had to categories this picture it reminds me of "A Bridge On The River Kwai" or "The Guns Of Navarone" and "The Dirty Dozen". The qualities or attributes of hero's during the second world war. The Star, in the same manner, highlights the sacrifices of the Soviet nation. The style of the film is in the mold of many modern combat pictures. Also, cinematography concluding the demise of our screen hero's simulating "Saving Private Ryan", Brotherhood or even "The Alamo"! For these reasons a picture of this quality and authenticity deserved a marketed international release.
The distraction of the sub-plot love story between the scout leader Travkin and wireless operator Katya did not several damage the accomplishment of the film. Even though this plot could be described as embarrassing and unnecessary, it helps apprehend, in a mildly unconvincing manner, the youthful conditions of still being a teenager, regardless of the terrifying surroundings. Evidently, the characters are between 17-20 years of age, expressing innocence and spirit of adolescence. "The Star" is effective, sharp and abrupt, at the same time as providing tension.