and how they tried to cope with his long time disappearance.
Much is made of the young lead actress, her performance and her looks: both I found wanting.
Similarly, the film's cinematography often is singled out for its "Eisenstein-like" effects: with the exception of one scene, I found them distracting from the realism of the story.
I very much liked the film but I did IN SPITE of these things not because of them.
In centering the film not upon the soldier but rather upon the impact his absence has upon his family, the director and writer chose brilliantly: we already countless times have seen the brutality and savagery of battle portrayed on the big screen: it really is incapable of convincingly conveying it.
Especially brilliant is the actor who portrayed the patriarch: he has the passion and skill of a Spencer Tracy: his performance alone is worth your time.
This film easily rates as one of the most powerful anti-war films ever made but it is more than that: it also has much to say about patriotism, romantic love and its fickleness, and the power of family.
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Topic - "The Cranes are Flying:" a very powerful film about a Russian soldier's family - tinear 14:02:04 06/15/07 (15)
- RE: "The Cranes are Flying:" a very powerful film about a Russian soldier's family - Victor Khomenko 10:51:47 06/16/07 (1)
- That's he! What a magnificent "performance." I used quotation marks - tinear 17:56:26 06/16/07 (0)
- RE: "The Cranes are Flying:" a very powerful film about a Russian soldier's family - patrickU 09:19:27 06/16/07 (0)
- I appreciate you reference to Spencer Tracy... - BJordan 19:19:13 06/15/07 (11)
- Very interesting question. Let me think on it a spell... nt - tinear 17:54:49 06/16/07 (10)
- thanks..nt. - BJordan 19:44:32 06/16/07 (9)
- A middle-aged man whose demeanor suggests education without - tinear 06:28:52 06/17/07 (8)
- I've been interested in this question and... - afilado 13:29:04 06/17/07 (6)
- Yeah, in that flawed film he refused to play to its level. One of his - tinear 17:32:58 06/17/07 (5)
- I agree with what you are saying.... - BJordan 19:19:59 06/17/07 (4)
- RE: I agree with what you are saying.... - jamesgarvin 14:34:24 06/18/07 (3)
- RE: I agree with what you are saying.... - tinear 16:49:06 06/18/07 (2)
- RE: I agree with what you are saying.... - jamesgarvin 14:44:29 06/19/07 (1)
- Thanks for the thoughtful reply, sincerely. - tinear 06:30:32 06/20/07 (0)
- good definition of him .... - BJordan 09:57:41 06/17/07 (0)