169. A Russian Youth (Malchik russkiy); movie review

A RUSSIAN YOUTH (MALCHIK RUSSKIY)
Cert TBA
72 mins
BBFC advice: TBA

I have read much about the First World War and been to some of the infamous sites in France and Belgium from where we glean our history.
But the part the Russian soldiers played seems to have been airbrushed out of the British version.
I now learn that Russia had been called to arms before the British - after the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on its ally, Serbia.
And I should have been aware of its consequences - two million dead and the collapse of the Russian empire leading to the 1917 revolution.
I digress.
A Russian Youth tells the harrowing story of a young village boy (Vladimir Korolev) who goes to the front for fame and medals.
The harsh reality is that he loses his sight in a German gas attack but he refuses to be sent home as a hopeless invalid.
Consequently, he serves at an alarm post, using huge metal funnels to hear enemy planes approaching.
Noting that the Russian army was mainly made up of peasants and the working class, director Alexander Zolotukhin rounded up non-professional actors on streets, in factories and among cadets at military schools.
And it works - in his grainy black and white, an atmosphere is created that really does reflect how it must have been like during the First World War.
However, Zolotukin allows the grip on the audience to be loosened by the very strange inclusions of brief clips from the orchestra which is playing the movie's soundtrack.
Rachmaninoff's work may well have resonance for both the 1914-18 and Second World War conflicts and is probably a good choice here.
But why show its players or even hear their conversations?
If there was an attempt at deeper meaning it was lost on both Mrs W and me.

Reasons to watch: A thought-provoking portrayal of life on the Russian frontline
Reasons to avoid: The strange deflection into the modern-day orchestra

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: Yes
Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know? According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, 12 million Russians were mobilised in the First World War, 1.7 million were killed, just under five million were wounded and 2.5 million were held prisoner or missing.

The final word. Alexander Zolotukhin: "I try to remind the audience of the distance between the historical and present world, so they can process what happened since the events of this film: the start of the communist uprising, the outbreak of World War II, political oppression and other historical traumas.” Talent Press

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