Štrafbat

I do not share the boundless enthusiasm of many others for the series. It appears like it was created during the late perestroika period, not in the 3rd millennium. It deals with taboo topics from the Soviet era, starting with the brutality of the Stalinist Gulag and ending with widespread antisemitism. However, some of these themes are only touched upon, while others are softened - the harsh and uncompromising approach of the NKVD commander is more than balanced by the fatherly approach of the commanding general and other staff officers. Just when one feels that the series is capable of touching upon the sore spots of Soviet history and healing wounds, there comes a line that feels like an undeserved slap in the face. For example, when the commander urges doubtful soldiers to return to the safety of the camp and enjoy their rations without having to work. For one thing, it obviously has a modest budget and cannot impress with its production design. Worse is that when there are sporadic combat scenes, they are filmed in an unremarkable and confusing way. On the other hand, the cast is one of its strong points. This generation of Russian actors is not that well-known, although they are often top-notch actors who are a joy to watch. Overall impression: 60%. (20.11.2015)