Enemy at the Gates

Enemy at the Gates is a movie directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud in 2001, adapted from a book written by William Craig which loosely described events surrounding World War II Soviet sniper Vasily Zaitsev and his German rival, Major König, during the Battle of Stalingrad, 1942-1943. Another book called The War of the Rats formed the basis for the sniper duel element of the screenplay.

Related Topics:
Movie - Jean-Jacques Annaud - 2001 - William Craig - World War II - Soviet - Sniper - Vasily Zaitsev - Battle of Stalingrad - 1942 - 1943

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The aim of the film is to describe the role of propaganda in both sides of the war, instrumentalising the sniper-warfare as a metaphor of the fight of the two armies.

Related Topics:
Propaganda - Sniper-warfare

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The film was criticized both in Russia and in the West for taking considerable liberties with the facts; in both its plot and in the depictions of its characters (notably Fiennes' character, Danilov, and the German sniper König), it varies widely from the historical record. It met mixed box-office success. However, the opening scenes, where Red Army troops cross the Volga under heavy German fire, have been widely praised.

Related Topics:
Red Army - Volga

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tagline: A hero never chooses his destiny. His destiny chooses him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~