Eternal Winter (2018) User Reviews

War and Persecution

[Imdad_Palijo · 7/10 · 8 July 2022]

A fine addition to the War Drama category from Hungary portraying atrocities of World War II this time focusing on forced encamping and ruthless handling of women of Hungary by Gulag forces of Soviet Union in harsh winters for many years. The movie follows Irén (Marina Gera) with other innocent females who are transported two thousand kilometers away from their homes for forced labor.

It was quite shocking to note that the forced labor and persecution of internees including hundreds of thousands of Hungarians remained in force with the agreement and consent of other world powers at that time, which continued even when the war was over.

The acting performances and cinematography are good, but the ending sequence respecting lead roles is not logical, which could have been avoided in such a fine movie.

yes, there is hope, but only if you survive

[jagsw2 · 7/10 · 3 May 2020]

Magnificent film - - - about the situation of these women and about this I agree with other reviews so I am not going to repeat them - - until --- Ooops!... for me the whole film collapsed in the last few minutes... the director/writer chose to be a hungarian first and film geniuses second - it could have been the only way to have the film funded\sponsorized by Hungarian sources?...maybe?... No matter... I did not see any (dramatic) logic for Iren not following Rajmund to Germany as she had agreed to do before her nationality interview... Well, the only logic was that she did not love him as much her lost/dead husband... And only used him and his love for her selfish need to survive - and suddenly the love story the audience so much got entrhalled into became a mere survival story and I lost all sympathy for Iren and Rajmund became the one I felt for... so she went back to a life of what?, waiting for a likely dead husband - ?... I would have understood and accepted her decision if she got to know her husband had returned and was at home waiting for her... but he is absent as ever... and from the film does seem her parents and daughter were not styarving or homeless or dying to need her desperastely... She goes back to a waiting for Godot life, condemned to staying her village just to make happy her ever growing up (and no doubt soon independentdaughter ) and her getting older parents?... if her daughter and her parents cared for her in an unselfish way they should have been very happy for her finding love again in another man.... If her husband would come back from nowhere after 10 years he should have the commons sense to understand his wife had found somebody else... Besides all else Iren and Rajmund came through hell, with their survivors skills, would not they find it quite easy to either find a way to have her parents and daughter over to Germany at some point?... Or for Iren and Rajmund to go to live in her village in Hungary?... My strong suspicion remains that the filmakers have chosen to make a 'Hungarian' film rather than a world masterpiece....

9/10 Great movie

[aussiemalwayi · 9/10 · 4 January 2020]

ETERNAL WINTER (Orok Tel) is the second war related Hungarian movie i watched after GLOOMY SUNDAY (1999). Both gave me tears after watching. Movie shows the true history, in 1944-45 approximately 700,000 Hungarian men & women were taken to forced labour by the orders of Stalin, 300,000 of them never returned home. A MUST WATCH

Oscar Worthy

[dpstucky · 10/10 · 5 October 2018]

I have just seen the film Eternal Winter at the Raindance Festival in London and was absolutely awestruck by the accomplishment. I was spellbound from beginning to end and want to wish it all the best of luck with distribution and I hope it receives the recognition it deserves. I'll spread the word as much as I possibly can. See it if you get the chance.

Amazing movie

[pelczbernadett · 10/10 · 27 November 2019]

This movie is very important to watch for everyone to know more about history.Its heartbreaking to watch it for me as I am a Schwaben Hungarian and I knew people who survived these camps .My neighbour use to tell me a lot about it and trust me this movie is a very soft version of the ugly truth.Incredible acting.However I wanted to see more about the work camp and see more of the truth how people were being treated still all I can say is amazing performances and beautiful movie!

It's called Gulag on DVD in the U.K.

[mike-vaudin · 9/10 · 10 January 2020]

Extraordinary and good if rather chilling film. Beautifully acted and it's one of those films you must stick with to get the real benefit. The last half and hour is compelling.

Heart wrenching

[nicktuck-96644 · 10/10 · 29 March 2020]

I watched this at the Raindance Film Festival and it was the most powerful film I watched there. It deserved a shot at an Oscar. Incredible film making and acting, I left in tears having watched a true masterpiece. Watch this film

Not a correct picture

[mazcoroni · 5/10 · 20 April 2021]

The movie is great, but whoever made it, forgot that the war was won in May and in Ukraine (they mentioned this region throughout the whole movie) during May there is no snow, especially in Donbas region. The shots of nature looked like Siberia. Should have done their homework before shooting the movie.

Realistic. Heartbreaking. Beautiful Cinematography.

[iratushinskaya · 9/10 · 18 June 2020]

One of the best, if not the best, movie about the Gulag there is out there. Must see this. Gorgeous, real, and heartbreaking cinematography and acting. This movie will fill your life and heart with what it means to be human. Don't miss this movie!

MUST WATCH ..

[eragonashvini · 10/10 · 9 July 2023]

I am an Indian & we Indians consider the whole world as our family...First of all, I pay my humble tribute to all the innocent people killed in all these camps. I express my sympathies with the families of these people. At the same time, I pray to God to give strength to the families of all these people to bear this immense sorrow. This film is going to shock the human mind, whatever incidents have happened in these camps, they should not be called at all and the whole world community should ensure that such incidents never happen again. All the actors of the film have acted very well. Amen....