If there ever was a family-friendly war movie this would definitely meet such criteria, although there are plenty of battle and intense scenes, no bloodshed or dead bodies are shown.
Six short stories seamlessly connected together into one piece: (Pamiatka / Remembrance), (Vysviacka zvona / Bell consecration), (Krst ohnom / Baptism by fire), (Chlapec a puska / The boy and the rifle), (Vianocny dar / Christmas present), (Pozdrav / Greeting).
Second World War and the Slovak National Uprising through the eyes of small children. A gray pigeon with an injured wing after being shot down by a slingshot by one of the boys. Examples of courage and bravery, as well as examples of cowardice and treason.
The teacher (Karol Machata) which takes the children on a school trip into the mountains is a special kind of a spineless traitor. He's a staunch Slovak guardist i.e. Nazi collaborator that as the movie progresses stealthily turns his coat and joins the fight alongside Slovak and Russian partisans just to save his hide, but once he sees that his newly chosen side is getting the heck beaten out of them, turns his coat once again only to be nearly shot in the back from a distance from one of his students (Pavol Mattas as Vinco) which believed his intentions at first that he finally joined the Slovak resistance. He nevertheless gets his just comeuppance towards the end of the movie as he is captured by the Soviet army. Little Rudko (played by Pavol Polacek) even asks what is going on with his teacher and is being replied by Vinco: "No worries, he won't be teaching you anymore".
A woman giving birth in a burnt-out house being helped by a female Russian partisan while a Nazi troop is approaching the settlement. Little carolers trying to divert the attention of the soldiers towards them eventually fail to do so as loud moans coming from the dilapidated hut are being heard. This is one of the nail-biting scenes where my heart really skipped a beat.
I also cannot omit the cringe-worthy scene where the Major (Ladislav Chudik) as a representative of the bourgeoisie simply throws away his rifle when the boys (Vinco and Milan played by Peter Kollarik) and he get attacked by a German fighter plane and their car gets shot into smithereens. The director gave several nods to the communist regime throughout the flick, but luckily it does not detract from the beauty of the movie. Especially the scene of the shiny and polished Russian ruble coin with the embossed CCCP letters on it slowly descending to the bottom of the river cannot be interpreted otherwise than brown-nosing.
The absolute highlight without a doubt for me are the children non-actors which are simply great. Most of all Pavol Mattos in the role of a bit of a rebel Vinco, the sexton's son. Pavol Mattos was able to perfectly portray the transformation from a child to an adult man.
The amazing camera work and unique angles used throughout the film are nothing short of a spectacle. That's why I'm giving this a 7-star rating.
There are a lot of Slovak war movies revolving around the topic of the Slovak National Uprising, but very few so poetic and beautiful. The eponymous gray pigeon gets released back into nature in the end, but there's a high price to pay. However, I won't spoil you the ending.
Six short stories seamlessly connected together into one piece: (Pamiatka / Remembrance), (Vysviacka zvona / Bell consecration), (Krst ohnom / Baptism by fire), (Chlapec a puska / The boy and the rifle), (Vianocny dar / Christmas present), (Pozdrav / Greeting).
Second World War and the Slovak National Uprising through the eyes of small children. A gray pigeon with an injured wing after being shot down by a slingshot by one of the boys. Examples of courage and bravery, as well as examples of cowardice and treason.
The teacher (Karol Machata) which takes the children on a school trip into the mountains is a special kind of a spineless traitor. He's a staunch Slovak guardist i.e. Nazi collaborator that as the movie progresses stealthily turns his coat and joins the fight alongside Slovak and Russian partisans just to save his hide, but once he sees that his newly chosen side is getting the heck beaten out of them, turns his coat once again only to be nearly shot in the back from a distance from one of his students (Pavol Mattas as Vinco) which believed his intentions at first that he finally joined the Slovak resistance. He nevertheless gets his just comeuppance towards the end of the movie as he is captured by the Soviet army. Little Rudko (played by Pavol Polacek) even asks what is going on with his teacher and is being replied by Vinco: "No worries, he won't be teaching you anymore".
A woman giving birth in a burnt-out house being helped by a female Russian partisan while a Nazi troop is approaching the settlement. Little carolers trying to divert the attention of the soldiers towards them eventually fail to do so as loud moans coming from the dilapidated hut are being heard. This is one of the nail-biting scenes where my heart really skipped a beat.
I also cannot omit the cringe-worthy scene where the Major (Ladislav Chudik) as a representative of the bourgeoisie simply throws away his rifle when the boys (Vinco and Milan played by Peter Kollarik) and he get attacked by a German fighter plane and their car gets shot into smithereens. The director gave several nods to the communist regime throughout the flick, but luckily it does not detract from the beauty of the movie. Especially the scene of the shiny and polished Russian ruble coin with the embossed CCCP letters on it slowly descending to the bottom of the river cannot be interpreted otherwise than brown-nosing.
The absolute highlight without a doubt for me are the children non-actors which are simply great. Most of all Pavol Mattos in the role of a bit of a rebel Vinco, the sexton's son. Pavol Mattos was able to perfectly portray the transformation from a child to an adult man.
The amazing camera work and unique angles used throughout the film are nothing short of a spectacle. That's why I'm giving this a 7-star rating.
There are a lot of Slovak war movies revolving around the topic of the Slovak National Uprising, but very few so poetic and beautiful. The eponymous gray pigeon gets released back into nature in the end, but there's a high price to pay. However, I won't spoil you the ending.
