In "The Cadets", we get an in-depth story about how the Soviets trained their troops for the Great Patriotic War around the time of the Battle of Stalingrad. These cadets are learning artillery, but they are also learning about life in a small town--about women, about power, and about war. The acting is brilliant. I particularly liked Igor Petrenko as an officer, the son of a general, forced by his conscience to commit treason. Igor's character must steal oats from the supply depot in order to feed the woman he loved because she faced starvation after she had her ration book stolen. (We lovers of Russian cinema saw Igor's ability to act in the movie "Zvezda" (The Star), where he played a captain killed on a scouting mission deep behind German lines.) The Cadets is a miniseries that takes about ten hours. I loved the technique of having the director, who lived the events depicted in the film, narrate what happened to many of the characters during and after the war. The Cadets is a valid investment in time that will pay off in performances that stay in your memory long after viewing. I highly recommend it.
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