Ballad of a Hussar (1962)

The Age of Commercialism

Really Surprised!

Good start, but then it gets ruined

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

"Hussar ballad" is based on real events back in year 1812 when Napoleo's army intruded Russia. The real-life prototype of main heroin is Valentina Durova, a "сavalry lady", who really shined in the Russian Army back then. The intrusion of Napoleo into Russia caused a great stir among people of different classes of Russian society towards immediate joining the Russian Army. Back then Russian army was strictly for males, so the feat of Valentina Durova was one of the extremes that illustrates the greatness of people best of all. Nethertheless, Valentina joined the army, and even became famous as a deadly "сavalry lady", and as such she reached the end of war and the defeat of Napoleo in Russia. The movie recreates the original story in style of light musical war comedy, and, it's a cinema after all, a special twist love story. Everything fits very well in this movie : plot, cast (well, finally the main heroin had to be taken for a young cavalry man, as all hussars would do, and still be a lovable main heroine for the deadliest hussar to fall in love with her) , scenery, dialogues ( one and half hour of dialogues are done in verses only, no prose), music, songs, fights, dances, battle scenes... I do value this movie very high for it's special aroma of people's soul highness where love to Russia, love between man and woman, compassion to the fallen enemy are branches growing from one tree. Even secondary characters are real-life, like famous Denis Davydov, a guerrilla leader, patriot and poet. Highly recommended.

This is one of my most favorite movies ever. It's a story of a woman that dresses up as a young man because she wishes to fight against the army of Napoleon, and finds herself in the same squad as the man that she's supposed to marry. The movie is like a one big poem with great lyrics and great music. But what really makes the movie so great is the great acting by the top of the line actors which is partly theatrical but fitting the movie very well. But unfortunately only people who knows the Russian Language can appreciate the movie since it's mostly about the dialogs. I don't think that there is or can be a good translation to any language. But for anyone who knows Russian this movie is a must see if not already an all-time favorite.