Today
I saw Stalingrad, a 3-part documentary about the decisive World War II
battle between the Nazis and the Soviets. Originally a TV project, hence the 3
episodes, Stalingrad was projected digitally with English dubbing.
While the material was fascinating, I’m not sure it was ready to be shown at The
New York Film Festival. Each episode ended with credits, a sure sign that it had
yet to be retooled for a feature format. As well, at the press conference that
followed director Sebastian Dehnhardt admitted he wasn’t pleased with the
English dubbing.
Aside from these issues, the details of the documentary are clear reminders of
the savagery that lurks below civilization. It’s also a testament to human
fallibility and the will to survive. These themes, punctuated by actual
documentary footage of the siege and its corpses (many of which were
cannibalized), carried the festival’s social leanings, precipitated by Errol
Morris’ The Fog of War, into the final week.
Stalingrad is perfect for PBS. That’s where it belongs. I think the screening
was noble, but misconceived. However, it was a fun learning experience.
TOMORROW:
The Barbarian Invasions
Copyright 2003 Jamie Stuart