after seeing documentaries on The Katyn Forest Massacre; and, reading the book "Katyn: The Untold Story Of Stalin's Polish Massacre" by Allen Paul; - I thought that this movie would have used more, if any, 'real' names of the Polish officers (and, soldiers - sergeants and up, whom are both active and retired), to honor those who were murdered by the Russians.
Also, not all of those who were murdered by the NKVD in this incident were Polish. Many were Belarusians, Ukrainians, and, Jews.
HERO - Polish Major Adam Solski, who is mentioned in every documentary I've seen; and, mentioned in the book I read; wasn't even portrayed nor even 'spoken of' in this movie!?!? A DISGRACE!!! If not for Major Solski and the diary that he kept that was on his body, IN AN UNMARKED AND MURDEROUS PIT; and, later found by the Germans after they pushed the Russian forces out...many of the events taking place up to his own murder would have gone unknown.
Another monumental occurrence that this movie makes no mention of is all of the influential Polish civilians who were also murdered and buried in Katyn Forest; and, elsewhere (like those 1,800 or so who were drown in the Black Sea, and, whom the Russians claimed "escaped to Mongolia!?!?").
Plus, all of those Polish politicians; lawyers; doctors; engineers; police officers; land and factory owners; etc., who were murdered because they could 'think and organize' the Polish people.
Joseph Stalin! A completely-maniacal-and-paranoid-violent-buffoon, who controlled even lower, but, just as violent retards (the NKVD); completed, but, failed to covered-up his "Simplistic mind of 'total domination' over a 'total population' of 'total retardation' in himself and in his government!" The Russians, after the job was finished, then killed all of their own executioners!?!? Nice bunch of people - no honor or loyalties whatsoever. Just as Stalin did between 1936-1938 with what became known as 'The Great Purge.' He killed-off 'many' people in his own Communist Party; government; military; and, population, which only served to weaken his own nation.
Early on, Stalin realized (thought) that the basic instinct of 'normal' people was to 'kill all the leaders and all those who oppose!' YES! It is...for CAVEMEN! This is what Stalin, with the help of Lavrentiy Beria (head of the NKVD), was doing...and, 'anyone with an opposing mind or view has to go!' One of whom was a Polish Olympic ice skater; and, another was a young female Polish Air Force pilot!?!? I'm sure that these two were a 'real threat' to the pathetic Stalinist ideals of communism!?!?
No...murdering these loyal and honorable Polish officers and soldiers; and, civilians; and, all the rest, FOR Russia...wasn't a blessing upon mankind!?!? It wasn't even a blessing upon Russia nor the Soviet Union! Neither were the thousands of Poles and Polish loyalists who the Russians 'drown' in the Black Sea during this same time and claimed escaped to Mongolia.
This movie mentions none of this!?!?
To "HONOR" these people who died for no other reason than being 'loyal' to their nation, you must mention their 'real names.' This movie does none of that!?!? This movie is a simple generalization of events...but, not of the 'real people' who were 'murdered' to give realization to these events.
This movie is a 'VERY SIMPLE AND VAGUE' generalization of only a 'very small' part of what really happened in this murderous tragedy! This could have and should have been a longer epic tragedy about; and, an homage to all those who were senselessly murdered at the hands of psychopathic barbarians. Or, even better, it should have been a mini-series, much like "Holocaust" (1978); and, included all of the names, facts, and, details that I mentioned here that came from documentaries and books.
Watch some documentaries; and, read the book I mentioned; and, you'll get a personal and up-close view of what a real horror this "Katyn Massacre" really was when you know the names, the actual names, of 'real people' who were wastefully squandered in this mass-murdering lunatic fiasco. And, all because some 'Freak Leader,' Stalin, was "SO AFRAID" of the Poles...and, of everyone else in the world...including his family, friends, and, even his own people!?!? Just like Caligula!
P.S. - I've read all of the 'hated it' comments on this movie. With the overwhelming evidence from many sources, including dated documents found on the victims themselves...anyone who actually believes that the Nazis murdered these people either needs to do some research; they're bias; they're pro-Soviet; and/or, they need therapy! Years and years of therapy! This occurred in April of 1940, and, the Germans weren't even this far east at this time.
Even though the Nazis were also mass-murderers as well...they weren't so stupid as to bury their victims in their uniforms/clothing with every pocket filled with dated and incriminating documents; wearing dog tags; identification numbers written on their uniforms by the Soviets (Major Solski was #490); etc.
Along with the bodies of the victims, the oafish murderers even buried the German PPK pistols they used to kill these victims in the hopes that if the graves were ever discovered, the world would assume that the Germans perpetrated this crime. However, those pistol serial numbers were on Russian purchase orders in Germany at the Walther Company and dated before World War II ever began!?!?
