Luckily, for all who are curious, this film is easily reached at YouTube. I had downloaded it a while ago, and tonight, after watching two GDR TV episodes with Günter Naumann, I decided to finally watch it.
In brief, it was a very strong experience. (Not because of Naumann, nor even Armin Müller-Stahl. Manfred Krug could easily be spotted by his forehead scar, though irritated with his fake blond hair.) For me, the strongest, and immediately recognizable actor was "Kommissar" Erwin Geschonnek.
Nominally, this is a war film, and there are some small-to-mid-size artillery firings to that claim. But in my opinion it's somehow, weird as it may sound, an amalgam between Western and Bergfilm. The life-endangering struggle of the 7.. 6.. 5.. 4 men to bring a message through to headquarters, split over 5 cartridge shells. The extremely vivid characterization of thirst. The dangers of mountain slopes covered with loose pebbles.
Never mind the political message about Communists/Republicans vs. Fascists/Authoritarians. This works like white hats/black hats in westerns. (After all, the Franquists won that war, and their regime lasted for another 40 years.) I found it more an existentialist story, which is mostly concerned with survival in direst straits. Somehow comparable to Treasure of the Sierra Madre, or Les salaires de la peur. Strong visuals, strong music. I recommend this film very much.
In brief, it was a very strong experience. (Not because of Naumann, nor even Armin Müller-Stahl. Manfred Krug could easily be spotted by his forehead scar, though irritated with his fake blond hair.) For me, the strongest, and immediately recognizable actor was "Kommissar" Erwin Geschonnek.
Nominally, this is a war film, and there are some small-to-mid-size artillery firings to that claim. But in my opinion it's somehow, weird as it may sound, an amalgam between Western and Bergfilm. The life-endangering struggle of the 7.. 6.. 5.. 4 men to bring a message through to headquarters, split over 5 cartridge shells. The extremely vivid characterization of thirst. The dangers of mountain slopes covered with loose pebbles.
Never mind the political message about Communists/Republicans vs. Fascists/Authoritarians. This works like white hats/black hats in westerns. (After all, the Franquists won that war, and their regime lasted for another 40 years.) I found it more an existentialist story, which is mostly concerned with survival in direst straits. Somehow comparable to Treasure of the Sierra Madre, or Les salaires de la peur. Strong visuals, strong music. I recommend this film very much.