Cuckoo in a Dark Forest

This film elevates Oleg Tabakov to a four-star level, probably being his best performance on the movie screen. A decent script that shows several layers of thinking and remarkable contradictions of the Nazi officer's value system. The film is heading towards a raw finale of stoning in a prisoner-of-war camp. A plus is the pleasantly short duration without unnecessary deviations and sentimentality baggage. Another positive aspect is the scenes from the sand dunes on the Polish coast, which add authenticity to the film. Overall impression 75%. (22.05.2007)