The best films about the war. List of Russian and foreign films about the Second World War

War in itself is a huge tragedy for any people. Its consequences are colossal and terrifying. But it is at such moments in history that great filmmakers draw inspiration to tell of some events that are exciting or to share the story of one person. For Russians, films about the war of 1941 - 1945 are something more than just cultural value. Western countries, which suffered from various military actions, also reflect their stories in the cinema. Movies about the Second World War find their audience. Perhaps the greatest value can be documentary, in which, without any artistic background, reality is reflected.

This article describes only a few films from hundreds of worthy.

"War and Peace"

The work of the great director Sergei Bondarchuk, a film epic, which immediately won the recognition of filmmakers, was released on the screens in 1966 (the first series). The theme, voiced in the film, more than once covered other feature films. The Patriotic War of 1812 became for many an example of the invincibility and faith of the Russian people.

"War and Peace" - this is a screen version in four parts of the genius novel of the same name by our writer LN. Tolstoy. Therefore, the degree of responsibility of the director was enormous. The work was overseen by E.Furtseva herself, all the historical funds and museums of the country were at the disposal of the crew.

The picture met expectations, winning the Oscar in 1969 as the best film in a foreign language, the main prize of the international festival in Moscow in 1966 and becoming the leader of the rental in the USSR.

The film became known as filmed by the most modern technologies. Thanks to the creation of the new system, it became possible to shoot the most beautiful battle scenes and panoramas of nature.

"The fate of man"

The best films about the war do not tell us about immediate military actions, but about people who were forced to face them. For the director and for the audience, the person, his feelings and thoughts, the pain that war brought with him is important. Soviet films about the war are striking in their depth and piercing.

The painting "The Fate of Man", filmed in 1959, fully meets these criteria. This is the directorial debut of Sergei Bondarchuk, based on the story of M. Sholokhov. It tells about a simple Russian man, the driver Andrei Sokolov. The war took his wife and three children from him, he himself suffered a lot of suffering, having been captured by the Germans. A real hell awaited him in a concentration camp, but faith and hope helped Sokolov stand up in this fight. He remained alive, but his soul was tormented.

In the postwar period he met the boy Vanyushka, whom the war left an orphan (mother died, father disappeared without a trace). Sokolov, full of kindness and faith in a good future, told the child that he was his father.

This scene is the most piercing in the picture. The films about the war of 1941-1945 are particularly dramatic and tragic, every inhabitant of our country can see there the history of his family and remember or understand how cruel that time was, but, despite everything, it was full of faith in the best.

"Cranes are Flying"

The feature films about the war of 1941 - 1945 have always attracted a wide audience. The film "The Cranes Are Flying" was filmed in 1957 based on the play by V. Rozov "Forever Alive". The action of the two works is somewhat different from each other. Although the plot is the same: two lovers Boris and Veronica are preparing for the wedding, but the war begins and the young man volunteers to the front. At parting he gives his beloved toy (squirrel with a basket of nuts), in which he hides a note.

During one of the bombings, the girl loses her parents and the house, she finds shelter from the family of the Borozdins. Their cousin lives a cousin of Boris Mark, who immediately starts courting the girl.

Veronica, without receiving any news from the groom, marries Mark. They are evacuated to the Urals, where the girl works in the hospital, and Mark kuroleset at the apartment with his mistress. After Veronica finally found a note from Boris, she leaves Mark.

Soon the Borozdins learn that Boris was killed. Veronica does not want to believe in this and after returning to Moscow he is waiting for him at the station with a bouquet of flowers.

Russian films about war always collected a wide audience of spectators. But only this film was able to win the highest award of the Cannes Film Festival in 1958.

"Star"

The feature films about the war of 1941 - 1945 are always filled with some entertainment, and many moments simply do not correspond to reality. So, in the movie "Star", based on the story Kazakevich, the ending is very different from what happened in reality. All the characters of the film had prototypes in life.

"Star" is the call of the reconnaissance group, which conducts activities in the rear of the enemy. At first everything goes according to plan, but soon they are discovered and the chase begins. Scouts are hiding in the attic of an old barn, but even then the Germans find them. Help is late, the shed was set on fire by the fascists, there is no way out ...

In reality, a group of prototypes survived, completing the assignment.

The best films about the war should touch the spectator's soul, despite some inaccuracies. In fact, they are even invisible. Stunningly true actors' play, dramatic history and competent work of the crew made this film incredibly piercing.

"Schindler's list"

Of course, this is one of the most heart-wrenching films touching on military topics. And the story is very unusual, because the main hero and savior in it was a member of the NSDAP, industrialist Oscar Schindler.

Movies about the Second World War usually include scenes of battle character, but this picture is about another. The Holocaust is one of the most tragic pages in human history, and we all have to thank God that there was a man like Schindler who saved hundreds of people from imminent death.

Oscar is a very enterprising businessman, who in 1939 opened production in Krakow. As workers, he hires Jews from the ghetto, and his assistant is taken by the accountant Yitzhak Stern.

Thanks to Schindler, 1,200 Jews remained alive, including women and children.

The film has collected all conceivable and unimaginable awards, including Oscar, Grammy, Golden Globe.

"Life is Beautiful"

This Italian tragicomedy of 1997 also narrates about the hard fate of the Jews who ended up in a concentration camp. In the center of the plot is a young Italian Guido and his son Josue, who is too young to die. Father represents everything that happens as a game in which you must follow certain rules to win a tank.

After the liberation of the camp, Josue reunites with his mother, and Guido sacrifices his life for his son.

The best films about the war are highly appreciated at various film festivals. The painting "Life is Beautiful" won the main prize in Cannes, as well as the American "Oscar".

"Pearl Harbor"

Of course, the attitude of people comes to the fore in this military melodrama. It's about Evelyn, a nurse in Pearl Harbor, and two fellow pilots, Rafe and Danny.

The first falls in love with Evelyn at first sight, and his feelings are mutual. However, he flies to England to fulfill his duty. And soon the news of his death comes from there. Evelyn and Danny find solace in each other's company. They are very close. And then, like a bolt from the blue, Rafe appears. He survived!

Perhaps this film would remain a banal melodrama, if not for the attack of Japanese aviation on the Pearl Harbor base. Friends forgive each other for the sake of a common goal.

The best films about war are most often removed based on either works or real life stories. Danny and Rafe also had prototypes, but one of them was dissatisfied with this film work, which distorted many of the circumstances of his life.

An interesting fact is that some aircraft for the film were built in Russia at the Orenburg plant. Some Russian films about the war were also filmed with such props.

"Saving Private Ryan"

A film by Steven Spielberg, released in 1998 and collected five Oscar statuettes.

The action takes place in 1944 in Normandy. During the landing in battle, two Ryan brothers are killed, and somewhere in the Pacific, the third brother. The command decides to send the only living Ryan home to his mother to ease her suffering.

But his whereabouts are not known exactly ... Therefore, commander John Miller recruits a group and goes in search of a soldier. On their way there will be many obstacles, but the order is above all. Miller finds Ryan, but the latter refuses to leave the army and his friends before the attack, and then Miller's group enters battle. At the cost of their lives, they manage to survive, and Ryan returns to his mother.

Documentary films about the war

Any event in our days finds a response in the media, especially if it's military operations. Documentary is designed to show without embellishment how things are or the actions actually were.

Of course, during the existence of mankind there have been so many tragic conflicts that they can not even be listed in the framework of one article. Therefore, we will mention only documentary films about the war of 1939-1945.

1. "Peace in the War," 1974. The picture contains eyewitness accounts, chronicles of events from twenty participating countries. The viewer can see the actual footage on which there is Hitler, listen to the memories of veterans.
2. "Apocalypse: World War II", 2009. Project "National Geographic", which also shows unique footage of the chronicle, battle scenes.
3. "The Great Battle - Kursk Bulge", 2003. The film is about a turning point in the whole war.

Such works are designed to explain to mankind that life is beautiful and war is the worst destiny, bringing only sorrow and suffering.