Zvezda (2002)

During WW2 the Russian Army sent a special group named "Zvezda" to fight the Nazis in their backyard.

Director:

Nikolay Lebedev

Writers:

Aleksandr Borodyanskiy, Yevgeni Grigoryev,

Stars:

Igor Petrenko, Artyom Semakin, Aleksey Panin

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Igor Petrenko	...	Lt. Travkin
Artyom Semakin	...	Pvt. Vorobiev
Aleksey Panin	...	Sgt. Kostya Mamochkin
Aleksey Kravchenko	...	Sgt. Anikanov
Anatoliy Gushchin	...	Pvt. Bykov
Amadu Mamadakov	...	Pvt. Temdekov
Yuri Laguta	...	Sgt. Brazhnikov
Ekaterina Vulichenko	...	Pvt. Katya Simakova
Andrei Yegorov	...	Capt. Andrei Barashkin
Sergey Miller	...	First Captured German
Gennadi Vorotnikov	...	Second Captured German
Aleksandr Efimov	...	Third Captured German
Aleksandr Naumov	...	Serbichenko
Aleksandr Dyachenko	...	Galiyev
Oleg Gushchin	...	Likhachyov

Storyline

The film is based on the eponymous book by Emmanuil Kazakevich. In the summer of 1944 the Nazi Armies prepare a massive Tank Division named 'Viking" for the offensive on occupied Russian land. The Russian Army's special group of seven snipers named "Zvezda" is sent for a reconnaissance operation behind the enemy lines in the back of the Nazi Tank Division. Two previous Russian groups never came back. The seven Russians know that they are going to an almost certain Death for the sake of Victory.

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Plot Keywords:

russian | tank | death | sniper | reconnaissance | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

Russia

Language:

Russian German

Release Date:

6 May 2002 (Russia)

Also Known As:

The Star

Filming Locations:

Alabino, Moscow, Russia

Box Office

Budget:

$1,300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

ARK-Film, Mosfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Narrator: But every spring, every May,the souls of the fallen on the fields of Poland, Germany, and everywhere go back to their homes to see their blooming motherland they gave their lives for.

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Connections

Version of Zvezda (1949)

User Reviews

True heroes.

This movie is about soldiers who didn't try to be heroes. In contrast to Private Ryan they didn't question their orders. They believed in their mission, and they had to complete it whatever the cost is. Heroes it's what we call them after watching this movie.

Visually, Zvezda is very decently made, though far from high budget movies like Saving Private Ryan or Enemy At The Gates. But on the other hand it wasn't the movie's goal. The director didn't try to lure us with stunning explosions, or great angle shots of a battle. He just tried to touch our feelings, which he did outstandingly.

There are some minor drawbacks in the plot(like of Vorobej remembering the way back) but except of these the movie is very tense, and the last minutes bring really heart-breaking, tear-dropping moments, that can't leave anyone indifferent. I wanted to scream but I couldn't let the words out, tears ready to go.

This movie is in memory of those, to whom we owe our lives, leaving our flowers over the grave-stone of the unknown soldier.