T-34

Russia, 2018, 139 minutes, Colour.

Alexander Petrov, Irina Starshenbaum, Viktor Dobrobravof, Vinzenz Kiefer.

Directed by Aleksey Sidorov.

A different perspective on World War II films. This time it is from Russia, and recreation of battles on the Russian front near Moscow, in an extraordinary tank escape from a German prisoner of war camp. For audiences who love tank action, especially in World War II films, this is a must.

The opening sequence involving two Russian soldiers in the vehicle being pursued by a number of tanks and an intense German commander, their skills in being able to evade rockets and can gingerly drive is certainly adrenaline-pumping and filmed and edited skilfully. Then, a town in Moscow has to be evacuated and the commander and one tank only available for fending off the Germans. Once again, this sequence is quite extraordinary in the manoeuvres, concealment, anticipating German moves,

The second part of the film takes place in a German prisoner of war camp where the crew of that defending tank have been captured and imprisoned. And the German commander from the siege of Moscow is here, and they have T-34 tank full of dead Russians which needs to be reconstituted and to be used then by the Germans. Commander is unwilling but the German holds the translator as a hostage, threatening to shoot. The commander then chooses his old crew for the refurbishment of the tank that, cleverly getting permission to bury the dead Russians in the tank, takes the remaining weapons and conceals them.

What follows is even more action with the tanks, within the camp and destruction, and on the Road, pursuit, escaping through a town, through the forests.

Perhaps the plot is plausible – but there is no indication that the film is based on facts. Rather, the film is dedicated to all tank drivers in wars.

1. A different World War II story? Russian perspective?
2. Audience familiarity with the German invasion of Russia? Previous alliance between Hitler and Stalin? The attack on Russia, Russia and the Allies? The Germans underestimating the Russians, underestimating the Russian weather?
3. The opening, the town, the Germans, the defence group? The focus on the two in their vehicle, the slashing of the signed to Moscow? The pursuit, the skill in evading the Rockets? Their getting back to safety? The situation in the town, the hospital, evacuating? Nikolai and his being put in charge, the small team, their initial scepticism, his claiming his good training, but lack of experience on the front? The collaboration?
4. The detail of the strategy to do the Germans, the mobility of the tanks, the skill of each member of the crew, the commander and his tactics, the driver and his skills, the firing of the bombs? Hiding on haystacks, anticipating the moves of the Germans, tricking them? The focus on the German commander, the tank, his aggression, the destruction of all the tanks? Nikolai on the street, the German shooting him?
5. The transition to the German prisoner of war camp? The Russians and their presence, the commander wounded? The irony of the German commander and his role in the camp? The interviews, the Russian translator? German proposal, the captured Russian tank, to get rid of the corpses, to repair the tank and have it in service? The commanders refusal, the German threatening to shoot the translator, relenting?
6. The parade, his choice of those working with him, his choosing his former, comrades? Their initial wariness? Trusting him? The going to work, the corpses, the machine, the driver and his admiration of the tank, their work, the German testing, the completion of the work?
7. The tactic of permission to bury their comrades, the German giving it, the taking the ammunition, concealing it?
8. The German commanders, the cadets, the training?
9. The plan for the Russians, demonstrating the mobility of the tank, the Germans in admiration, the various manoeuvres, the involvement of the cadets, then the escape?
10. The drama of the escape in pursuit? The Smoke screen, the mobility of the tank, the skill of the driver, coming into different angles, shooting at the commanders? The desperation, the calls to Berlin, the threats of the authority to the German for his success?
11. The different manoeuvres, the skill of the Russians, the destruction of the German tanks, driving through the countryside, keeping out of sight, side roads, aiming for the Czechoslovakian mountains?
12. The help of the translator, her getting permission to go outside, her taking the maps, the rendezvous, her being collected and travelling with the group?
13. The night, the encampment, the relationship between the translator and the commander? Going into the town, the people surrendering, collecting the food and drink? Fitting in the night, the river, the swimming – and since freedom?
14. The manoeuvres at the end, the German pursuit, blocking the roads, their taking side roads, using their ammunition will, though limited, the member of the team getting into the German tank and destroying their command, his interventions?
15. The relish of the Russians, the driver and the success?
16. The buildup to the confrontation between the two men, the tank at the cliff, reaching out of the hand, the tank going into the water?
17. The success, picking up the translator, the journey to freedom?