War movie like you never seen it before

Is this the most subtle war story ever told? Possibly.

The main character is full of womanly warmth, love and compassion, thrown into rough routine of the Russian military camp in Chechenya. She is a symbol of peaceful family life, a truly grand-mother for whom every soldier in the base is a grandson.

The most amazing thing that struck me was that this is a war movie without a single shot, a drop of blood or tears.

War as a boyish thing is a subject in itself in this film. Sokurov took particular care in showing the war through the series of foolish and senseless behaviours by young soldiers, who at the same time seem to be a perfectly innocent bunch of adolescents. Adolescents deprived of their mothers and of normal lives. Fatherly hierarchy of the army does nothing to replace the lack of mothers.

Young soldiers regularly go out from the camp on their killing trips. Alexandra`s sight following their leave seems to bitterly admit that boys will be boys, she can't do anything about it, but to give them some of the womanly love and that even if just for a moment, this brings them back into normality.

The film does not go into politics or judgements about the war in Chechenya. One 'pro-Russian' comment indicate lack of mother's consent for terrorist actions, however at the same time it also shows blatantly how wide spread amongst the Russians is the conviction that every Chechen is a potential terrorist. The 'pro-Chechen' arguments are much strongly represented, in the form of acute depiction of poverty and social destitution, that local people have been forced into, as well as showing their craving for peace and traditional friendliness with Russia.

Overall yet, presence of 'crude facts' is extremely limited, the film focuses on human nature, emotional life, understanding of each other, even the enemy.

Even though I have just gone out of the cinema, I can't say whether it was an optimistic film or not. It was simply too humane.

I ticked 'the spoiler' thing, even though there is no usual finale in the film, that could be untangled at the end. From start to the end the movie rather builds up into one monumental picture. To reveal that is 'spoiling' the surprise.

Well worth watching, but don't expect any action!