The Great Patriotic War is one of the most important events of the last century in the history of Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union. This is an epoch-making event that has always remained in human memory. More than seventy years have passed since the end of the war; those events do not cease to excite even today.
We tried to find the best films for you about the Great Patriotic War for you, including not only classics of the Soviet period, but also the latest films that were shot already in modern Russia.
10. In war as in war | 1969 year
This is an old Soviet film about the Great Patriotic War, which was shot back in 1969, directed by Viktor Tregubovich.
The film shows the fighting everyday life of Soviet tankers, their contribution to the victory. The picture tells about the crew of the self-propelled gun SU-100, under the command of Junior Lieutenant Maleshkin (played by Mikhail Kononov), who only came to the front after the school. Under his leadership are experienced fighters, the authority from whom he is trying to gain.
This is one of the best Soviet films about the war. Especially worth noting is the brilliant cast: Kononov, Borisov, Odinokov, as well as the excellent work of the director.
9. Hot snow | 1972 year
Another beautiful Soviet film, shot in 1972 according to the magnificent book of Bondarev. The film shows one of the episodes of the Battle of Stalingrad - a turning point in the entire Great Patriotic War.
Then Soviet soldiers stood in the way of German tanks, which tried to unlock the Nazi group surrounded in Stalingrad.
The film has a great script and a great cast of actors.
8. Burnt by the Sun 2: Anticipation | 2010 year
This is a modern Russian film, shot by the famous Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov. It was released on a wide screen in 2010 and is a continuation of the first part of the trilogy, which appeared in 1994.
The film has a very decent budget of 33 million euros and a great cast. We can say that almost all famous Russian actors starred in this film. It is also worth noting the excellent work of the operator.
This film received a very mixed assessment, both critics and ordinary viewers. The film continues the story of the Kotov family. Comdiv Kotov gets into the penalty battalion, his daughter Nadia also gets to the front. This film shows all the filth and injustice of that war, the enormous suffering that the victorious people had to go through.
7. They fought for their homeland | 1975 year
This Soviet war film has long been a classic. Not a single Victory anniversary is complete without its display. This is a wonderful work of the brilliant Soviet director Sergei Bondarchuk. The film was released in 1975.
This picture depicts one of the most difficult periods of World War II - the summer of 1942. After the defeat near Kharkov, Soviet troops retreat to the Volga, it seems that no one can stop the Hitler hordes. However, ordinary Soviet soldiers stand in the way of the enemy and the enemy cannot pass.
This film involves a wonderful cast: Tikhonov, Burkov, Lapikov, Nikulin. This picture was the last film of the brilliant Soviet actor Vasily Shukshin.
6. Cranes are flying | 1957 year
The only Soviet film that received the highest award of the Cannes Film Festival is Golden Palm Branch. This film about the Second World War was released in 1957, directed by director Mikhail Kalatozov.
At the center of this story is the story of two lovers whose happiness was prevented by the war. This is a very tragic story, which with incredible force shows how many human destinies were distorted by that war. This film is about those terrible trials that the military generation had to endure and not everyone managed to overcome.
The film did not like the Soviet leadership: Khrushchev called the main character “a whore,” but the audience really liked the picture, and not only in the USSR. Until the beginning of the 90s of the last century, this picture was very beloved in France.
5. Own | 2004 year
This is a fairly new Russian film about the Great Patriotic War, which was released on the big screen in 2004. The film is directed by Dmitry Meskhiev. When creating the picture, 2.5 million dollars were spent.
This film is about human relations during the Great Patriotic War. The fact that Soviet people took up arms to protect everything that they considered their own. They defended their land, home, their loved ones. And politics did not play a very big role in this conflict.
The events of the film unfold in the tragic 1941. The Germans are rapidly advancing, the Red Army leaves cities and villages, is surrounded, suffers crushing defeats. During one of the battles, the Chekist Anatoly, the political instructor Livshits and the Blinov fighter fall into German captivity.
Blinov and his comrades make a successful escape, and they are sent to the village, where the Red Army comes from. Blinov’s father is a headman in the village, he harbors refugees. The role of the elder was brilliantly played by Bogdan Stupka.
4. The white tiger | year 2012
The film was released on a wide screen in 2012, it was shot by the wonderful director Karen Shakhnazarov. The budget of the film is more than six million dollars.
The action of the picture takes place at the final stage of the Great Patriotic War. German troops are defeated, and increasingly during the battles there is a huge invulnerable tank, which Soviet tankers call the "White Tiger".
The main character of the film is a tanker, junior lieutenant Naydenov, who burned in the tank and after that received the mystical gift of communicating with tanks. It was he who was entrusted with the task of destroying the enemy machine. For these purposes, a special “thirty-four” and a special military unit are being created.
In this film, the White Tiger acts as a kind of symbol of Nazism, and the main character wants to find and destroy it even after victory. Because if this symbol is not destroyed, the war will not be over.
3. Only old people go into battle | 1973 year
One of the best Soviet films about the Great Patriotic War. The film was shot in 1973, its director was Leonid Bykov, who also played a major role. The film is based on real events.
This picture tells about the front-line everyday life of fighter pilots of the “singing” squadron. The “old men”, who make daily sorties and destroy the enemy, are no more than twenty years old, but grow up very quickly in the war, having learned the bitterness of loss, the joy of victory over the enemy and the fury of a deadly battle.
The film involves wonderful actors, this is undoubtedly the best film of Leonid Bykov, in which he showed his acting skills and his directorial talent.
2. And the dawns here are quiet | 1972 year
This is another old Soviet war film, loved by many generations. It was shot in 1972 by director Stanislav Rostotsky.
This is a very touching story about anti-aircraft gunners who are forced to engage in an unequal battle with German saboteurs. Girls dreamed about the future, about love, about family and children, but fate decreed otherwise. All these plans were crossed out by the war.
They went to defend their country and completely fulfilled their military duty.
1. Brest Fortress | 2010 year
This is the best film about the Great Patriotic War, which was released relatively recently - in 2010. He talks about the heroic defense of the Brest Fortress and about the first days of that terrible war. The story is conducted on behalf of a boy, Sasha Akimov, who is a real historical character and one of the few who were lucky enough to escape from the surrounded fortress.
The script of the film very accurately describes the events that took place on that terrible June on the Soviet state border. It was based on real facts and historical documents of that era.