"Enemy at the Gates"

In 'Enemy at the Gates,' we witness the Battle of Stalingrad fought between the Soviet Union and the Nazi third Reich.  One of the reasons that I enjoy this film is because it is a rarity to see a World War II film from the point of view of the Russians.  It was the Russians who lost the most people in the war, and probably whom we know the least history about.  In America, we think little about the 'Godless Communists,' but it is a fact that without their huge sacrifice in manpower and equipment, we very well may have lost the war.

The film follows a young soldier named Vasily Zaietsev who during the battle of Stalingrad joins the Soviet sniper division.  The story has two main parts, a bit of a love triangle between Vassili, his friend (a political officer in the Soviet Army,) and a woman by the name of Tania.  The usual shenanigans ensue with the two men ending up at odds over the woman, but learning to value their friendship even after one of them gets the girl, and the other is left in the cold. 

The military portion of the film focuses on a sniper duel between Vasily and a German Colonel by the name of Konig played expertly by Ed Harris.  The two spend a large portion of the film playing am incredibly intense game of cat and mouse moving from place to place in the ruined city of Stalingrad.  This game ends of course with one victor, but there are losses on both sides before the final climax of the film.

'Enemy at the Gates' is one of the best World War II films ever made.  There are no other films that make war quite as personal such as a film that focuses on the sniper.  The sniper who so intimately fights, sees, and kills his adversary. 

-David

'Enemy at the Gates' is an extremely well done film, focusing on the young Russian soldier Vasily Zaietsev (Jude Law). In addition to the sniper duel, that David mentions above, we are shown what seems to be a very realistic view of what it would be like to be in the Russian communist army. In the opening scene, we see scores of men and women pushed onto and off of trains, forced into battle, with one soldier receiving bullets, while another receives a gun. If the men try to run back, they are shot at by their own generals for retreating. And this just the opening scene.

In addition to following Vasily through the film, we meet a female soldier (Rachel Weisz) who plays an important role, and a political officer who uses Vasily's incredible sniper abilities as positive propaganda to encourage the entire Russian army, whose fate becomes intertwined with Vasily.

Enemy at the Gates shows us some disturbing images of the casualties of war, yet it is not shown unnecessarily, and is there to make a point, that people are hurt, and people die in these conflicts.

The dialogue is superb, as is the acting, and if you are a fan of military films, specifically WWII, this is a movie you do not want to miss.

-Bethany