User Reviews

Having watched the pared-down 3 hr. movie version of this story, it was only through its IMDb page that I discovered that the movie was based on a much longer television mini-series. Very impressed by the movie, I was even more enamoured by the series, as it managed to flesh out a lot of the minor characters while still keeping the sheer tension of the main plot lines developing at a satisfactory pace. First of all, the tale is a poignant love story of Katia and Andrey: their meeting, their ignited passion for one another, their separation during the war, their meeting again during a perilous mission, their separation and seemingly endless attempts to find one another again while both simply trying to stay alive behind enemy lines. Secondly, the drama involves the issue of loyalty and selfishness, and the manner in which they work against one another in men's souls during perilous times. The conflict between Andrey and Linko is not only that between good and evil, but is a broader conflict between whether it is better to stay alive while sacrificing one's ideals or to be willing to die to preserve them. Finally, the story involves the war, and the efforts of the Germans - directed by their sadistic leader, Herr Holt - to test the new V2 rocket, efforts which are stymied by the actions of a crack squad of paratroopers and a stubborn band of partisans. Take the time to find this excellent series on YouTube - with English subtitles. It is a truly remarkably well done effort.