Watch 100 Days Before the Command

100 Days Before the Command is a 1991 Russian film directed by Hussein Erkenov. The film was produced by Aleksandr Rekhviashvili and the screenplay was written by Yurii Arabov. The film stars a large ensemble cast that includes Vladimir Zamanskiy, Armen Dzhigarkhanyan, Oleg Vasilkov and others. The movie was released in Russia on June 8, 1991.

Set in the Soviet Union, the film is primarily a character study of soldiers in a military academy as they prepare for their command orders. The film takes the viewer through 100 days of the soldiers' gruelling training. The soldiers come from different backgrounds and have different personalities. Nevertheless, they share the same goal of being the best cadets and graduating at the top of their class. They train hard day and night despite the fact that their life is much different than that of a civilian, as they are under the watchful eye of their superiors.

The film starts with the introduction of the central characters, each of whom is dealing with his own baggage, before appearing at the military academy. The plot unfolds, and the viewer can see how these young men transform themselves into soldiers through the rigorous training they undergo. The training includes running, crawling, jumping, and firing drills that are designed to build strength and endurance, as well as courage, discipline, and the team spirit. But the training also causes physical, emotional and psychological stress that takes a toll on the soldiers, leading to conflicts and misunderstandings, especially when they are forced to face their fears and weaknesses.

The film isn't just a war movie; it's a meditation on the meaning of brotherhood, sacrifice, and nationalism. The soldiers learn to work in teams and think about the well-being of their fellow soldiers. Each cadet must depend on the other to survive the program and earn their stripes. That means that even the weakest link in the chain isn't safe, as the actions of one cadet can bring the group down. Meanwhile, the class' paternalistic instructor, Colonel Kurochkin (Armen Dzhigarkhanyan) sees it as his duty to push the cadets hard, but he also understands the limits of the human psyche and the effects of deployment on soldiers. He's focused on victory, but he's not insensitive to the human cost of the war. He knows that he has to be tough and demanding, but he also knows when to show compassion and understanding towards his cadets.

The film doesn't preach or try to sway the audience to a political point of view. Instead, it provides a series of vignettes from the soldier's lives, allowing the audience to see the people behind the barrels of their guns. The film succeeds as a character study, with each cadet representative of a different social stratum in the Soviet Union. They all carry a sense of patriotism, but they also are cynical and disillusioned with the state of their nation. They are expected to be willing to die for their motherland, but they are not sure that the motherland is worth the sacrifice.

The cinematography of 100 Days Before the Command is also worth mentioning, as it adds to the film's overall impact. The film is shot in shadowy, moody tones, which underscores the often bleak nature of the landscape and the soldiers' lives. The camera captures the soldiers' emotions, their struggles and their achievements, bringing the audience into the heart of the plot.

In conclusion, 100 Days Before the Command is a strong film that experts and fans of Russian cinema alike will appreciate. It's not just a meditation on war; it's a study of the human experience, of brotherhood, of sacrifice, and of what it takes to be a soldier. The film is devoid of clichés or melodramatic excesses, and it stands up as a powerful portrait of a generation. The audience will leave the theater moved by the events on screen, and will better understand the men and women who serve in their countries' armed forces.

100 Days Before the Command is a 1990 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 11 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.