Battle for Sevastopol (2015)

A good "true story" movie should pique your interest. We all know Hollywood works its magic on whatever subject it picks and stretches the truth. That's exactly why biopics are always "based on a true story" or "based on true events" rather than factual, actual movies. That being said, Battle for Sevastopol is an excellent film and makes me want to learn more about its heroine, Lyudmila Mykhailovna Pavlichenko.

The Premise

Credited with an amazing 309 kills, Lyudmila Pavlichenko is the most successful female sniper in Soviet history. She became an advocate for women's rights, a friend of the U.S., and a battle-worn hero of World War II. Based on the incredible true story, Battle for Sevastopol focuses on the career of one of WWII's bravest soldiers.

My Take

It is no secret that the military is very much a fraternity. It was even more so during WWII. However, attitudes in the former Soviet Union were more progressive than I originally thought. Early in the war, the Soviet military allowed women to volunteer for service. This of course was not without its difficulties. Women back then faced more challenges than women do now, but if not for these groundbreaking souls, no military in the world would be where it is today.

Lyudmila Pavlichenko was one of these women. Played by Yuliya Peresild, Pavlichenko became a sniper at a time woman were largely pushed into nursing. The real Pavlichenko passed away in 1974, so I can only imagine that Peresild portrayed her with the right amount of bravery and vulnerability. In the film, she fell in love with two fellow soldiers (Anatoliy Kot and Oleg Vasilkov) and an army doctor (Nikita Tarasov). While I can't find anything to back up these relationships, what is true was her friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt (Joan Blackham).

What I found most amusing in my research, is the realism of the writing in Pavlichenko's visit to America. At the time, reporters were more concerned with her appearance and style on the battle-front than her cause and reason for her trip. Writers Maksim Budarin, Maksim Dankevich, Leonid Korin, Sergey Mokritskiy, and Egor Olesov were somehow able to capture the many varied atmospheres and settings of this film.

The Verdict

Battle for Sevastopol featured excellent make-up, especially during the battle scenes. The writing was very well done as was the direction, thanks to Sergey Mokritskiy. The portrayal of Americans was a bit amusing - a little like watching caricatures of ourselves. But as far as I could tell, the acting was top-notch (it is a foreign film after all!). I give Battle for Sevastopol a full 309 kills. Anything that makes you want to learn more about female snipers is worth the watch!