This feels like exactly what’s needed to counter the usual Hollywood approach to war movies. It's dark, unpleasant, and disturbing – all done deliberately as part of its filmmaking style. The story focuses on a young man named "Flyora" (played exceptionally well by Aleksey Kravchenko), who is forcibly taken from his Belorussian farm with his family, along with any food they could manage to grab, by invading Nazi soldiers. From there, the narrative follows his journey as he manages to escape, discovers an old rifle, and decides to join the communist forces battling overwhelming odds against their advancing, heavily armed enemy. What stands out is how straightforward the production is. There are no special effects or computer-generated imagery to create something that doesn't exist; it tells a simple story in a way that’s sometimes brutally honest, and at other times deeply moving. It portrays humanity’s capacity for cruelty on a large scale, showing an invading army lacking any trace of compassion on virtually every level. The experiences this young man endures are truly awful, but the film doesn't dwell on graphic depictions – although it’s certainly not suitable for those easily upset. We witness what is happening, but Elem Klimov allows ample room for our imaginations to fill in the gaps, if that’s even possible, regarding the true horror of war, random acts of violence, and destruction, possibly heightened by the fact that the invaders seemed clueless about their purpose or motivations. The conclusion has a sense of justification, yet it's not particularly fulfilling. By this point, the viewer is emotionally drained, and the ultimate fate of these uniformed oppressors feels almost insufficient. The film unfolds at a measured pace; it’s almost like watching a video diary as young "Flyora" encounters people, evades danger, and we share his anxieties and risks along the way. It's definitely worth seeing, but be warned – it’s not an easy watch.

Source on TMDB