The Soviet Story (Latvia, 2008)

A documentary on the atrocities committed by the Soviet Union before, during, & after World War II, & Stalin's connection with Hitler throughout.

As with many documentaries, these film makers definitely had an agenda. The narration was overly dramatic, & the editing was artful. Even so, they raised some interesting questions about history & how it is written.

I saw this film as part of the Sedona International Film Festival.

The Soviet Story on IMDb

Slaughterhouse Five (1972)

A man travels back & forth through time within his own lifetime, repeating the scenes over & over. (I wonder if this is where Audrey Niffenegger got the idea for her novel The Time Traveler's Wife.)

The film focuses on the main character as he relives his time as a young prisoner of war in Dresden, Germany when it was bombed killing up to 40,000 people in just two days (mirroring author Kurt Vonnegut's own experience).

As with most films of the 1960's & 70's, I had to try hard to look past the cheesiness of the film making, & wonder how much better this film would be if it were re-done today. This is one of the few instances when having seen the movie makes me want to read the book.

Slaughterhouse Five on IMDb

The Burmese Harp (Japan, 1956)

This movie is a snapshot of the Japanese reaction to the end of World War II. It's always interesting to see how other cultures perceive world events. It reminds me how subjective the tale of history really is.

The Burmese Harp on IMDb