Some Men Are Born To Be Heroes.|Mar. 14, 2001|Ireland | United Kingdom | France | Germany | United States|131 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;History;War
Description: “Enemy at the Gates” is a 2001 war film that tells the story of Vasily Zaitsev, a young soldier in the Red Army during the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. The movie begins with Vasily learning to shoot with a hunting rifle in the Ural Mountains, taught by his grandfather. The narrative then shifts to the brutal realities of war as Vasily finds himself on the front lines, forced into a dangerous charge without a weapon. Despite the odds, he survives and later demonstrates his sharpshooting skills by eliminating German soldiers, saving both himself and Commissar Danilov.
As the battle intensifies, Nikita Khrushchev arrives in Stalingrad to oversee the city’s defense. Danilov proposes the idea of creating a symbol of hope for the people by turning Vasily into a national hero through propaganda. Vasily is transferred to the sniper division, and his exploits are celebrated in the army’s newspaper, boosting morale among the troops. During this time, both Vasily and Danilov develop feelings for Tania Chernova, a local militia member. Concerned for her safety, Danilov arranges her transfer to an intelligence unit.
The story takes a dramatic turn when the German forces deploy Major Erwin König, a skilled sniper, to assassinate Vasily and undermine Soviet morale. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues between the two marksmen, showcasing the tension and high stakes of their confrontation.
Cast director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Cast actor: Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Ed Harris, Bob Hoskins, Ron Perlman, Eva Mattes, Gabriel Thomson, Matthias Habich, Alexander Schwan
Original name: Enemy at the Gates