Two Soldiers (1943) User Reviews

Good Story, Great Songs

[latemodernhistory · 8/10 · 5 September 2019]

This movie does not seem like most Soviet propaganda of World War Two. The plot may be rather simple, but it is well executed and not bogged down with forced in propaganda about Stalin or the state. The movie is simply about the friendship between two soldiers, Arkady and Sasha. Even so, the story itself is just a little better than mediocre at worst. What really shines in this movie is the music. Mark Berne's "Tyomnaya Noch" is beautifully executed. Even as a staunch anti-communist, I found this movie enthralling. I would definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in history, especially the Eastern Front of WWII.

Indestructible front friendship or Ballad of the heroic defenders of Leningrad

[lyubitelfilmov · 10/10 · 8 May 2020]

War drama. A film adaptation of the novel "My Countrymen" by Lev Slavin, a Soviet writer who was a war correspondent during the Great Patriotic War. Why did I choose this particular picture? They just recommended it to me, and besides, it was shot during the war years, although I came across a "restored" version of the mid-sixties. The original version could not be found, if it still exists at all (say "thank you" to Comrade Khrushchev for this). Well, let's not talk about sad things. As you know me, I love and appreciate the old cinema, and forgive him for the shortcomings only out of respect for the creators, because if there weren't these pictures, we would never have seen "Only old people go into battle", "Ata-bata" , soldiers were walking, "Hot Snow," and so on. I will do the same this time. For the technical part, I will tell you at the end, but for now, here is my brief opinion - a ballad about the heroic defenders of Leningrad. I will dwell on the expressive merits of this picture. So here they are: 1. History - the picture tells us about two bosom and completely dissimilar fighters in character, the cheerful Odessa resident Arkady Dzyubin and the gloomy silent man Sasha Svintsov, who protect Leningrad from German invaders in the first year of a difficult and terrible war. Their friendship will pass incredible tests, but we believe that everything will be fine. Between the heroes one feels warmth and sincerity. You believe them, worry about them, rejoice for them. How many such friendly ties were formed during the war, and how exactly one of the characters in the picture noticed it! Well, the romantic line is woven well. Maybe today, the story told will not make such a strong impression as in those years, but it deserves to be seen, at least one! 2. "Dark Night" - a song written by composer Nikita Bogoslovsky and poet Vladimir Agatov specifically for this picture, which is so sensually performed by the fighter Arkady, played by Mark Bernes. I have heard this song many times, because it is very famous and popular. When it sounded in the picture, the time literally stopped, the war went by the wayside, you do not pay attention to the bombing, shell explosions - you just listen to this song. Mark Bernes is from Odessa, as if he sings it to all Odessa citizens who groan under a German boot. The forty-third year was still on, the Battle of Kursk was still on, only in April the forty-fourth Odessa would be completely liberated, and the townspeople would hear this song! Well, the song "Chalands, full muffins ...", written by the same composer and poet, I also remember. It seems to reflect the spirit of Odessa: frivolous, dope, and so attractive! 3. Battle scenes - the film was shot by the Tashkent film studio in the forty-third year in difficult conditions, and at the same time they were able to show the war. Yes, the lack of extras is visible, yes, the Germans sometimes behave strangely, but the feeling of war, the enormous tension of forces, the willpower of the Russian soldiers, the desire for victory - all this was fully demonstrated! Now these scenes will not surprise anyone, at the current level of technology, but then they looked if not perfect, but at a very high level. A well-deserved plus, and even for the scenery, created clearly in haste. 4. Everyday life of the defenders of the Motherland - battle scenes occupy a large, but not the main role in this picture. The picture primarily tells about the friendship and front-line everyday life of soldiers. A moment of silence - and one writes a letter to mom, the other - to her beloved girl, the third - sings, the fourth - plays and so on. In war, death can come suddenly, so every minute of rest is a great joy for a soldier. These weekdays are shown just perfect. Here it's not possible to find fault. Just bravo! A little about the main characters: 1. Arkady Dzyubin performed by Mark Bernes is a cheerful and cheerful Chelyabinsk citizen who, with his charisma and behavior, attracts everyone's attention and literally steals every frame with his participation. I agree, sometimes he goes too far, but you still follow him and empathize, because there is something magical in his manner and cheerful character. Without such people, the world would be too dim. Mark Bernes is just something! Great performance, he did not play - he lived this hero! Hats off as a sign of admiration! 2. Sasha Svintsov performed by Boris Andreev - "Sasha from Uralmash", a silent and gloomy friend of Arkady who will always cover his back. He accepts some of his friend's statements too close to his heart (as I did), which causes minor quarrels. Nevertheless, it provokes lively interest. Boris Fedorovich embodied the image of a heroic Russian soldier, who for the sake of a friend would take the most desperate step, if only to get him out of trouble. It was such people who were able to defeat the huge, formidable and predatory brown beast that attacked our Homeland in June of the forty-first. Boris Fedorovich - sincere bravo! The film also starred Yanina Zheimo - Cinderella from the picture of the same name of the forty-seventh year. This picture was shown in the United States in January of the victorious forty-fifth year, and was a resounding success with the audience. Now for the technical part: surprisingly, both the sound and the picture do not need much restoration. But a blu-ray publication is definitely necessary. This is an excellent military Russian cinema, which should be shown in schools, it deserves it, because it was shot very well and competently. And in the world it's definitely worth knowing about this picture, and some people's memory was too short! Let me, on the eve of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, congratulate all the citizens of Russia, the countries of the former Soviet Union and all our compatriots living in other countries, but remaining Russians in their hearts, on this bright and powerful holiday! Read the story, honor your ancestors, do not repeat mistakes and build a bright future, so that such great blood will never exist in the world! Happy holiday! As a result, we have an excellent military drama about the indestructible front-line friendship with excellent and sincere music, excellent battle scenes, great acting and a powerful message!