Iи Traиzit (2008)
"In Tranzit" (original title)

In the winter of 1946, in Leningrad, a group of German prisoners of war are sent to a female transit camp by the cruel Russian Commander Pavlov. When they arrive, the Russian female ... See full summary »

Director:

Tom Roberts

Writers:

Natalia Portnova, Simon van der Borgh

Stars:

Vera Farmiga, Thomas Kretschmann, John Malkovich

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vera Farmiga	...	Natalia
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Max
John Malkovich	...	Pavlov
Daniel Brühl	...	Klaus
Natalie Press	...	Zina
Patrick Kennedy	...	Peter
John Lynch	...	Yakov
Guy Flanagan	...	Hans
Phillip Azarov	...	Ivan
Sergei Baryshev	...	Russian Guard 1 (as Sergey Baryshev)
Aleksandr Bolshakov	...	Captain (as Alexander Bolshakov)
Katya Chunkova	...	Nina
Ingeborga Dapkunaite	...	Vera
Andrey Fedortsov	...	Anton
Natalya Fisson	...	Tamara (as Natalia Fisson)

Storyline

In the winter of 1946, in Leningrad, a group of German prisoners of war are sent to a female transit camp by the cruel Russian Commander Pavlov. When they arrive, the Russian female soldiers show the hostility to the enemies that have killed their husbands, families and friends; only Dr. Natalia and the cook treat the prisoners with dignity. Natalia has an agreement with Commander Pavlov to keep her former lover, who was wounded on the head during the war and is slow, in the camp instead of sending him to an institution in Siberia. Pavlov assigns Natalia to disclose members of the SS infiltrated in the group of prisoners. Natalia and the prisoner Max feel a great attraction for each other while the prisoner Klaus tries to convince Max to denounce a couple of prisoners to satisfy the Russian. Natalia convinces the businessman Yakov to organize an orchestra with the prisoners; they are invited to play in a ball, where the lonely women that survived the war dance with the Germans. After ...

---

Plot Keywords:

german | ss | soldier | prisoner of war | soviet | 

---

Taglines:

From her greatest enemy came her greatest love

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality, nudity, violence and language

Details

Country:

Russia UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Iи Traиzit

Filming Locations:

St. Petersburg, Russia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Thema Production, Peace Arch Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Some of the female guards wear summer forage caps and others the heavy winter ushanka; the second is the correct type to be wearing with the winter uniform.

User Reviews

Remember, Max, I know who you are and what you did.

This is supposedly based upon a true story. maybe the part that is true is that the Russians didn't have enough space for all their prisoners, and just dumped four dozen in a lightly staffed women's prison.

Starring Thomas Kretschmann, who managed six roles in 2008 including Wanted and Valkyrie in addition to this one. Also featuring Vera Farmiga (The Departed), who only had four roles in 2008, including The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. She has a deal with the prison Commandant, played by John Malkovich, to protect her lover from being sent to the front. Also along is Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds, The Bourne Ultimatum, 2 Days in Paris, Joyeux Noël), always a welcome addition.

It was definitely a dark and depressing film, made the more so by the constant snow. There are some SS Officers in the mix and Pavlov (Malkovich) is determined to root them out and hang them. He enlists Natalia (Farmiga) for this task. Malkovich was born for roles like this.

It is strange the the women who hated the prisoners in the beginning for killing their families manage to find forgiveness at the end so they can have sex.

It was the acting, not the script that made this worthwhile.