The Great Patriotic War is a part of World War II, which addresses 4 continuous years of military actions between fascistic Germany and USSR. It started in 1941. At 4 a.m. on the 22nd of June Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa. 26 millions of perished men and women later, it finally stopped on the 9th of May, 1945 with final German Instrument of Surrender being signed on the 7th of May. These four painful years and the Victory which was bought at extremely high price ensured the freedom for the whole world and inspired numerous filmmakers in Soviet Union and Russia. Here is a list of 10 great movies which follow the events of the Great Patriotic War. Click on the film name to get to its IMDb page.
"Ivan's Childhood" ("Иваново детство") - Andrei Tarkovsky, 1962
Based on Vladimir Bogomolov's short story "Ivan", "Ivan's Childhood" is the first feature film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. Ivan is a 12 year old orphaned boy whose mother and sister were killed by Nazis. In order to revenge his family he joins partisans and insists on being a scout for intelligence service. The roughness of war interchanges with images of his childhood, which appears now only in his dreams.
"Only "Old Men" Are Going Into Battle" ("В бой идут одни "старики"") - Leonid Bykov, 1973
One of the most popular war movies, Bycov's film tells about a very musical squadron and their everyday life starting with the summer of 1943. Their days are filled with doubts, music, fear, love and acts of bravery. The quotes from the film are firmly written into the Russian language and the songs are still remembered and often performed by younger generations.
"Come and See" ("Иди и смотри") - Elem Klimov, 1985
Elem Klimov's "Come and See" is a brutal naturalistic work depicting the horrors of war. This difficult and petrifying film tells a story of 16 years old boy, who after another German attack decides to join partisan movement in the forrest. His path through the war makes him an old man and the terror stays imprinted on his face. Very severe film language aims to deprive the viewer of illusions about war which can be caused by other movies filled with lofty sentiments and heroic acts.
"The Dawns Here Are Quiet" ("…А зори здесь тихие") - Stanislav Rostotsky, 1972
This war drama, bases on Boris Polevoy's novel with a same name, is also much loved up to this very day. Starshina Vaskov is appointed to command a platoon of young volunteer girls. The old warrior isn't very accustomed to lead this kind of soldiers but gradually gets attached to the girls. The popularity of this tragic and touching story resulted in a remake, released in 2015.
"Twenty Days Without War" ("Двадцать дней без войны") - Aleksey German, 1976
The writer and front-line journalist Lopatin travels to Tashkent in the winter on 1943 to spend there twenty days. During his leave he visits the family of the deceased friend, watches the film based on his own essays, and experiences a short but vivid love story.
"The Cranes Are Flying" ("Летят журавли") - Mikhail Kalatozov, 1957
The Palme d'Or winner at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival, "The Cranes Are Flying" is a legendary film. The exceptional cinematographic work of Sergey Urusevsky is unsurpassed and remains exemplary for the cinematographers worldwide. The story of love, betrayal and dignity in uncertain and cruel times leaves no-one indifferent and the final words on war and peace should be engraved in every heart.
"Ballad of a Soldier" ("Баллада о солдате") - Grigori Chukhrai, 1959
A young hero who destroyed two enemy tanks asks for a short leave to visit his mother. On his way home he meets different people, helps fellow soldiers, experiences first love. Even though the meeting with mother is extremely short, his 6-day-leave is filled with impressions and events which demonstrate the whole range of human nature.
"Seventeen Moments of Spring" ("Семнадцать мгновений весны") - Tatyana Lioznova, 1973
Very popular tv-series from 70s follow the fictional events, which happened in 1945 between the 12th of February and the 24th of March. A Soviet spy Maksim Isayev aka Max Otto von Stierlitz is located in Berlin and gets a special assignment, but naturally everything goes extremely wrong when his radio operator Kat is calling for mother in Russian while giving birth in a German hospital. The film consists of 12 episodes is also renowned for its excellent soundtrack created by Mikael Tareverdiev.
"We Looked in the Death's Face" ("Мы смерти смотрели в лицо") - Naum Birman, 1980
This movie while being less popular than all others listed here offers a great dramatic twist. The protagonist is a former choreographer who during the siege of Leningrad succeeds to find his former pupils in the famished city. Despite the exhaustion and unbearable hunger they start to rehearse. The weakened teenagers struggle to get back in shape in order to survive. The story of inhuman inner strength and will is both frightening and inspiring.
"Fate of a Man" ("Судьба человека") - Segei Bondarchuk, 1959
The director of such epic movies as War and Peace and Waterloo Sergei Bondarchuk presents a more chamber-like story about a little man, an ordinary hero. It is about a man who was deprived of everything during the war, but continued to strive and to fight for his homeland. This film can serve as an illustration to the immortal feat of an unknown soldier. An offering to those who saved Russia and the world from the Nazis and rebuilt the destroyed life.