If it's high-action thrills and spills or an engaging plot line that you're after, then Hussein Erkenov's bleak art film 100 Days Before the Command may not be your first choice. However, students of the uniquely Russian school of filmmaking should make a point of seeing this stark, unhurried piece of work (the film's actual 67-minutes seems to last a lot longer). Detailing the experiences of a handful of young Russian soldiers, the various narrative strains barely tie together as a whole, leaving the viewer struggling to follow the action. But the plot would seem... to be secondary to Erkenov's visuals, understandably low-tech given that the film was shot in 1990, a mere year after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Long, slow tracking shots abound and there are many periods of absolute silence and little action, although the film captures military brutality just as well as the likes of Full Metal Jacket. This is hard work but rewarding viewing. --Phil Udell [show more]
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