Ashes in the Snow

My Movie Review : Ashes in the Snow

I can’t recall how I came upon this movie but I loved it very very much. This movie not only was a culmination of great acting, cinematography and direction. It was also a treasure trove of history buried for so long.

The movie starts with a Professor’s family in Lithuania who secretly helps rebels fight against the Soviet Union. When the Soviet soldiers come knocking on his door, his wife, daughter and son are whisked away to prisoner camps. The daughter who is a gifted artist records their journey to the camp on a hand kerchief in the hopes of it reaching her father. The movie captures all the tender emotions she feels when going through these harsh conditions in a beautiful and heartbreaking way. In some ways, it felt similar to The Book Thief in many ways and I felt compelled to read the book. The book ‘Between the shades of Grey’ was even more gut wrenching. Please read the book before you watch the movie if you can.

While this movie might be fiction, I was surprised to learn that, in reality, these prisoners still rot in prisons to this day.

Martin Wallstrom of Mr Robot fame does a good job of this trepid tyrant officer. Overall, a new side of world war to obsess about.