This is basically the sequel to Dovzhenko's earlier film 'Battle for Soviet Ukraine'/'Ukraine in Flames'. It is not as powerful as its predecessor, with fewer of the beautiful and disturbing images, but it has its moments.
The film describes the Russian attack against the Germans, which drove them away from the Dneiper river, and finally out of Ukraine. The film tends to explain the events in excessive detail, listing the towns and cities as they are recaptured, and far too much screen-time is taken up by a map with arrows moving around it. Having said that, there is one amusing moment on the map, where the arrows, representing the Russian attacks, stab a Nazi swastika, representing the German forces, and the swastika writhes a little before blood pours out and it disintegrates, with only one of its arms escaping.
In spite of its boring narrative style, there are some beautiful scenes, notably of Ukrainian soldiers coming home to their families and rebuilding their lives and their homes. And again there are some wonderful images of nature, in particular some shots of the moon and sun against the horizon. We also see some more disturbing depictions of the brutality of the Germans - more bodies of soldiers, women and children. However, what is slightly odd is that we are shown similar images of dead germans, but yet are supposed to feel proud and happy at these images. I suppose only when you have been through what the Ukrainians had could you feel such hatred towards the Germans. 8/10
The film describes the Russian attack against the Germans, which drove them away from the Dneiper river, and finally out of Ukraine. The film tends to explain the events in excessive detail, listing the towns and cities as they are recaptured, and far too much screen-time is taken up by a map with arrows moving around it. Having said that, there is one amusing moment on the map, where the arrows, representing the Russian attacks, stab a Nazi swastika, representing the German forces, and the swastika writhes a little before blood pours out and it disintegrates, with only one of its arms escaping.
In spite of its boring narrative style, there are some beautiful scenes, notably of Ukrainian soldiers coming home to their families and rebuilding their lives and their homes. And again there are some wonderful images of nature, in particular some shots of the moon and sun against the horizon. We also see some more disturbing depictions of the brutality of the Germans - more bodies of soldiers, women and children. However, what is slightly odd is that we are shown similar images of dead germans, but yet are supposed to feel proud and happy at these images. I suppose only when you have been through what the Ukrainians had could you feel such hatred towards the Germans. 8/10
