- Actors: Alexei Kravchenko, Amadu Mamadakov, Anatoly Gushchin
- Directors: Nikolai Lebedev
- Format: Dolby, PAL
- Language Russian
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Nouveaux Pictures
- DVD Release Date: 5 Feb 2007
- Run Time: 97 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000KB6DG4
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 41,777 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Product Description
Created by the same studio that produced "Come and See", The Star is an action packed war adventure that has been favourably compared with recent Hollywood depictions of war and inhumanity. Set during the end of the Second World War, on the Polish front separating the Russian and German armies, The Star is the call sign for a Russian scout unit being sent behind enemy lines to spy on troop movements in the knowledge that two such units have already been despatched and vanished without trace. Almost from the start the film is charged with tension as the scouts use their tracking skills to avoid detection and their killing prowess to exterminate obstacles in their way, leading to an almost unbearable climax.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Russian ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Deleted Scenes, Filmographies, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Zvezda (The Star) takes place in the summer of 1944, when Red Army troops were fighting on the Polish border in hopes of halting Hitler's advancing forces. In a desperate attempt to gain intelligence on a massive tank attack the Germans are allegedly orchestrating, a team of scouts with the radio code name "Star" is haphazardly put together from the ranks of the surviving soldiers. Though a series of encounters with the enemy quickly follows, the rag-tag group of men are able to broadcast the details of future enemy tactics and troop movements even as they are annihilated in a brutal battle with German troops. The Russian soldiers are given posthumous medals for bravery in 1964. Zvezda is directed by Nikolai Lebedev, who greatly admires Steven Spielberg's work, and admittedly tried to emulate many of the American director's techniques used in Saving Private Ryan. ...The Star ( Zvezda )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Based on a short story of the same name by Emmanuil Kazakevich, Lebedev manages to harvest every last drop of action and emotion out of it, without resorting to Holloywood style and tactics.
A great cast of young actors gives a fresh and unfettered performance, among them Igor Petrenko and Alexei Krevchenko who also stars in the most touching and authentic of all Russian WWII films: Come And See [1985].
The Star is really a call sign and in the film it is often juxtaposed by the search flares which fall like dying shooting stars into the landscape. Lebedev uses many such symbols throughout the film to evoke the romanticism and harshness of the original text. In one scene for example, Sparrow recites the lyrics to a German folksong: 'Ich weiss nicht was soll es bedeuten,...' (I don't know what meaning there is); in another we see doves before the impending last fight.
For authentic effects, most of the film was shot in the Moscow region - Alabino, Zvenigorod, Novogorbovo, Ananyino, and the rail station of Ostankino. Real German locomotives (booty from WWII) were shunted onto the railings for even more authenticity, with live special effects during the attack scenes.
Lebedev manages to evoke emotions and relations among the young men with the clever use of shots and scenes, highlighting that in those turbulent and deadly moments they barely have time to get to know one another. A particilarly meaningful moment is thus highlighted on the back of a truck when his comrade watches 'Sparrow' sleep with the light gliding over his face.
A tense and fascinating film, which proves that Russia can still hold its own in film making, and that there are other styles which tell a good story well. Recommended viewing.
A great cast of young actors gives a fresh and unfettered performance, among them Igor Petrenko and Alexei Krevchenko who also stars in the most touching and authentic of all Russian WWII films: Come And See [1985].
The Star is really a call sign and in the film it is often juxtaposed by the search flares which fall like dying shooting stars into the landscape. Lebedev uses many such symbols throughout the film to evoke the romanticism and harshness of the original text. In one scene for example, Sparrow recites the lyrics to a German folksong: 'Ich weiss nicht was soll es bedeuten,...' (I don't know what meaning there is); in another we see doves before the impending last fight.
For authentic effects, most of the film was shot in the Moscow region - Alabino, Zvenigorod, Novogorbovo, Ananyino, and the rail station of Ostankino. Real German locomotives (booty from WWII) were shunted onto the railings for even more authenticity, with live special effects during the attack scenes.
Lebedev manages to evoke emotions and relations among the young men with the clever use of shots and scenes, highlighting that in those turbulent and deadly moments they barely have time to get to know one another. A particilarly meaningful moment is thus highlighted on the back of a truck when his comrade watches 'Sparrow' sleep with the light gliding over his face.
A tense and fascinating film, which proves that Russia can still hold its own in film making, and that there are other styles which tell a good story well. Recommended viewing.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
An unashamedly proud film about Soviet forces in World War 2 and their forward scouts. The film uses many of the old cliches of war films but does so in a charming way, with plenty of tension as the patrol starts to take losses and finds itself with a very important mission. One identifies entirely with the patrol during the film and its final denouement leaves one in no doubt as to what are the director's feelings.
The patrol contains the usual mixture of Soviet nationalities and types (much as any American film must have a kid from the Bronx and one from the South). The Germans are shadowy figures seen only at close hand when they are captured or killed (indeed captured and killed). This is not a sentimental film about war, thought it is about the bonds of the patrol. There is even an effectively managed love interest back at base.
The final scene with the Soviet unit marching by while the credits explain how long it took to get the contribution of the scouts recognised is as proud as any episode of the excellent Band of Brothers. Saving Private Ivan, as it were.
As always with Russian films the Russian/Ukrainian countryside is a character in itself with its woods and swamps all lovingly shot.
The patrol contains the usual mixture of Soviet nationalities and types (much as any American film must have a kid from the Bronx and one from the South). The Germans are shadowy figures seen only at close hand when they are captured or killed (indeed captured and killed). This is not a sentimental film about war, thought it is about the bonds of the patrol. There is even an effectively managed love interest back at base.
The final scene with the Soviet unit marching by while the credits explain how long it took to get the contribution of the scouts recognised is as proud as any episode of the excellent Band of Brothers. Saving Private Ivan, as it were.
As always with Russian films the Russian/Ukrainian countryside is a character in itself with its woods and swamps all lovingly shot.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a good solid war movie. Being a Russian film the story development is a little different to western eyes and the music score feels like it is dated but the movie is entertaining and interesting. Fans of WW2 movies will be amazed by the amount of hardware and detail present and there are interesting parts that sound true to life, especially the gritty ones.
Russian movie industry is on an upward swing and also on a learning curve. Their history is untapped. World War 2 in Europe was fought first and formost on the eastern front and one day I feel the Russians will be producing first rate movies about Kursk, Bagration and Barbarossa but not yet. This story is fiction but good none the less, but those who catch my drift will realise that Band of Brothers is superior to Kelly's Heros in that real life always makes a better story.
Once Russian film makers realise this their movies will become first class.
Until then war movie collectors will enjoy movies like this one, for the different prespective they bring and the share amount of World War 2 material available in Russian films.
Russian movie industry is on an upward swing and also on a learning curve. Their history is untapped. World War 2 in Europe was fought first and formost on the eastern front and one day I feel the Russians will be producing first rate movies about Kursk, Bagration and Barbarossa but not yet. This story is fiction but good none the less, but those who catch my drift will realise that Band of Brothers is superior to Kelly's Heros in that real life always makes a better story.
Once Russian film makers realise this their movies will become first class.
Until then war movie collectors will enjoy movies like this one, for the different prespective they bring and the share amount of World War 2 material available in Russian films.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Death is the Star
Film about a potential suicide recon squadron sent to dip behind enemy lines and report back what they encounter. Read more
Published 29 days ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
AN ABSOLUTE STAR
Russian commandos behind Jerry lines in ww2.Tense,gripping nailbiter.Lovely loud guns and explosions.Very good effects,all the tanks and guns look real and accurate. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Awfully nice chap
More true to life than other films
Star is about Soviet soldiers going into enemy lines, albeit on Soviet land.
There is a small 'love story' in this film. Read more
There is a small 'love story' in this film. Read more
Published 4 months ago by FLazzurri
Workmanlike Soviet War Film
This is rather Hollywood in style, a bit flashy, plenty of focus on what nice guys the troops are, some very tense moments, very nice cinematography. All in all a good WWII film.
Published 12 months ago by M. P. Campbell
what a 'star'
absolutely loved this film a lot better than some of the american 'war movies' out there(see the poet).how anyone can score this movie a one star is beyond me. Read more
Published 12 months ago by darwenpete
Another Russian Hit
The Star is a story of a Soviet reconnaisance team and their trial behind enemy lines before the final Soviet push on Germany in 1944/5
The story itself is pretty... Read more
The story itself is pretty... Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2010 by Mr. Lee A. Robertson
Great war film
Got this on the strength of watching Come and See. Bit slow to start with but couldn't stop watching by the end. Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2009 by C. Clark
The Star
Russian films are usually poetic to a certain extent and this one is no different. There is a hint of a love story behind the battle scenes which can be easily ignored if need be. Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2009 by A. Mccaffery
Good Fillum
A shot-for-shot remake of an earlier film but still this very simple story is nicely told. For your money you get a bit of action, a bit of tension, some drama and a little... Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2009 by Grushenko
Moving....
I'll start by stating that I'm certainly no review buff or movie critic, but nevertheless felt that this movie deserves a few more words of credit. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2008 by Paul
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