Ballad of a Soldier

Chukhari's film "Ballad of a Soldier" demonstrates a change in film's from Stalinist reign to ideas that are more free ranging and less edited. It is interesting that Alyosha doesn't seem to hold a very significant meaning within the film. He is depicted as honest, kind-spirited, and quite naive. These qualities reoccurred in most all circumstances throughout the film. Shura's part also didn't seem to hold a signifigant message in the film. She seemed to serve as a "ray of happiness" to Alyosha.

The opening scene in "Ballad of a Soldier" seemed to set the stage for the rest of the film's plot. It depicted a mother treacherously awaiting her sons (Alyosha) arrival from gruesome WWII. Left and right her friends were losing sons, husbands, and brothers. Keep in mind this was wiped out a generation of men.

As we move further into the plot, we see the Alyosha courageously fend off two tanks and win a six day leave to visit his mother. He simply wants nothing more than to see his mama for a couple of days but due to the horrific circumstances caused by the war, his journey was anything but simple. I enjoyed how the director depicted the honest comradery between all the soldiers. We even see Aloysha go on a mission to deliver two bars of soap to a fellow soldiers fiance and father in which he has never met before. These sort of situations that Aloysha is put in really exemplifes his pure, honest self. It is through these types of situations that we are able to really feel connected and sympathtic toward Aloysha.