Lettres de Stalingrad

A harrowing, essayistic montage of real wartime letters that feels like a cold, mournful documentary poem.

Directed by

Gilles Katz

Genres

Drama

Starring

Alberto Cavalcanti, James Cellier, Paul Crauchet

Overview

This film is based on actual letters German soldiers sent home from the siege of Leningrad during World War II. The litany of trouble these poor grunts endured is lamentable. One complains of returning home an invalid. An SS man has bad dreams about the Russian tank-driver he killed. Another complains when he sits down to hear a piano recital and one of the musicians has frozen fingers. Another soldier swears he will never forgive his father for injuries he suffered in the invasion of Leningrad. Stock footage of wars from World War II to Vietnam are inserted and give an ironic tinge to the feature.

How it feels

Bleak, melancholic, dark and satirical. Slow-burning and demanding.

About

War, death, trauma, guilt

Content

Strong violence. Mild gore and language. No sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer (opens in a new tab)