One of the world’s best films about the hopelessness and meaninglessness of any civil war. I first saw this film at one of the Moscow film festivals, I think it was in 1975 or 1976. I was 20 years old at the time, partly raised by Soviet agitprop, and my heart was on the side of the Spanish Republicans. And here is the tragic story of love - the true, sweeping away all obstacles, trying to step over blood, death, convictions. doubts. And defeat... I was shocked by this film, the acting, the director’s work. We in the Soviet Union saw a lot of films about the civil war, different, very well made. But there were no films with such a semantic context.
Now, almost 40 years later, I've watched this movie. I was not afraid of disappointment, although I know that many things that seemed like an undoubted masterpiece in my youth are perceived differently with age. It can be simpler, and sometimes it seems elementary. But that didn’t happen with this movie. I was looking at the screen: from almost nothingness appeared forgotten frames and faces, and the heart and mind screamed - it's a masterpiece!!! And it's a really strong, beautiful movie that I recommend to anyone who loves and understands real art.