My interest in the Apocalypse Genre is pretty strong so I always wanted to see this movie based on a nuclear exchange between the USA and the Soviet Union but with the nice twist of it being seen from the Russian side (well it is Russian so a no brainer I suppose).

Unfortunately getting hold of a copy is pretty bloody difficult, it an obscure film even by eastern cinema standards and since there isn't a western DVD release i hadn't put much hope in seeing it, but wonders are all around and by chance i came across an old VHS release of the film this weekend and despite the thoughts of pulling the old recorder out of the attic i couldn't resist buying it.

First off I should say the English subtitles seem at points to be a bit screwy (either that or the characters speak in a pretty odd manner at points) but i was able to follow the general gist of the film so it wasn't a massive loss.

Its impressively anti-war for a Russian movie released pre-Glasnost and the grim monochrome presentation (if it was because of a small budget or for effect i can't say) adds positively to the overall tone. The nuclear destruction sequence is noteworthy as well, its a model city it destroys but that doesn't take anything away from it, it sort of reminded me of the intro to Whoops Apocalypse (an early 80s British series) in its look. As for general feel it evokes the 60s film The War Game most closely as it avoids any mawkish sentimentality which creeps into most Western depictions of nuclear war

There were moments where it got a tad strange and offbeat which seems to be a trait of eastern cinema which isn't something im very used to, it jars me to be honest (a funny speech about how humanity can evolve to live with the radiation is one of these moments) but i can live with it.

The main meat of the story involving a Professor writing letters to a son he knows must be dead (the Dead Man of the title) while simultaneously trying to protect a group of orphaned children is impressively free of slush and cliche and even thou the ending is a tad downbeat its a rather hopeful movie at heart.

I really hope the release a DVD version with subtitles thou, VHS felt like those old 1980s football broadcasts from behind the iron curtain with its quality.

Still excellent movie gets thumbs up from me.

A