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So much average

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Young Russian soldier Alyosha (Vladimir Ivashov) earns a medal, but asks to visit his mother instead. His journey recounts various kinds of love during wartime.The film received considerable praise for both its technical craft and its strong, yet subtle story. Viewed from the earnestness and unabashed youthfulness of the protagonist, the film was hailed as an instant classic by Soviet and American critics.We are quite lucky there was a "thaw" in the Cold War at the time this film came out, as it allowed Americans to see what their "enemies" were doing: making really good anti-war films. Despite all the political rhetoric of the leaders, the average person just wanted to live a happy life. The characters in this film could be Russian, American, French or anything else...

The 1959 Soviet film entitled "Ballad of a Soldier," directed by Grigori Chukhrai is set during World War ll. The film revolves around a young enthusiastic 19 year old soldier named Alyosha who receives a medal for his heroic act in the front when he single handedly destroys two German tanks. Instead of this he appeals to be granted leave for a few days to visit his mother. Throughout his journey home he comes to fully realize the turmoil and affect of war on humans. One of the many themes this film portrays is "heroism." At the beginning we immediately realize that Alyosha isn't particularly this traditional amazing hero as we see him fleeing from the German tanks, but his instincts to survive has him become an accidental hero. This isn't writing off his title of a hero in any way. The presentation of a heroic act between the scene of him staying back to deliver the message that a group of tanks were heading their way, to the scene of him saving countless people from the train wreckage that happens later in the film is comparatively different in the portrayal of a hero. The treatment in soldiers from the beginning of the filming towards the end is significantly different as at the beginning many citizens were willing to help Alyosha get home, but near the end it was difficult to have someone take him merely 5 miles to see his mother. He was treated as a "good for nothing" or obstacle especially in the scene where he had saved several people from the train wreck. Chukhrai usage of angles is rather unique, for example the deep focus shot that is slowly turned upside down when Alyosha is running away from the German tanks gives a sense of disorientation and loss that the battlefield is composed up. Chukhrai especially like to elongate characters and objects perhaps to highlight the importance these elements have on the film. Although the film does respect authority figures and idealizes soviet workers it does devote a lot of its attention on the humanistic picture that is powerful as it is devastating. For example the scene were Alyosha meets a veteran who lost his leg and is hesitant to return to his wife. It was through Alyoshas constant optimistic view on the situation that made this reunion possible.

Grigori Chukhray's movie is still highly topical. It is one of the best anti-war films ever made. It reveals in a most outspoken way the human faces behind the bloodshed. It shows how war violence is not limited to the battlefield, but provokes also physical and mental havoc everywhere in the countries involved. People lose their homes, their possessions and even their country. People bleed also psychologically through broken or strained relationships and family ties. Women have to do a man's work at home. As a contrast to the satanic war machinery, Grigori Chukhray scripted a pure love encounter. But, it also didn't last very long. Ideologically, this movie is a perfect example of Marxist art: it has a positive hero, who is also a type, a representative of a particular class (a soldier, a 'Russian' soldier). 'Ballad of a Soldier' stands in sharp contrast to the actual avalanche of so-called blockbusters preaching an unacceptable and shameful gospel of violence. 'Ballad of a Soldier' in its way is also a blockbuster, but with 'big' sentiments, preaching love instead of hate, respect instead of inhumanity and family ties instead of random killings. 'Ballad of a Soldier' is a 'big' movie. A must see.

touching, power, subtle, full of force and grace. it is difficult to describe it. because small and ordinary pieces makes a great story about love, war, mother portrait and youth in dark time. each aspect is unique. and great virtue is perfect measure. a film like flower after Stalin death, it is, in same measure, a lesson out of age. about cinema art, about science of Soviet directors to expose the essence but, more that, it is a beautiful lesson about meetings as seeds.all makes easy. but like old ballads, it is a tale about hero and his travel, fights and victories, Alexey Skvortsov may be Ilia Muromets. or another character from legend. his war is pledge for sensitive roots of existence. adventures who makes him better. it is not a manifesto or fresco. can be a letter. or only a kind of Oddysey in which Itaka is more than a place.