Essay Database

Enemy at The Gates The film begins in 1942. It records the following 180 days. Days on which the fate of the civilized world hangs. It is the epic contest between the Red Army of Russia and the Nazi forces of Germany for Stalingrad. Joseph Fines plays Political Officer 2nd Class Danilov. In a scene, he becomes the man who is permanently charged with inspiring the Russian forces with stories of Vassili the hero. Jude Law plays …

…merely performs his duty with extraordinary skill. He is quiet, self-effacing and modest. He does not consider himself a hero, but a soldier doing his duty. But the Soviet propaganda machine led by Danilov (Joseph Fiennes) uses him as a tool to boost morale in the soldiers. The Soviet press publishes his daily kill count. The battle is between Vassilli and Koenig, as each tries to learn about the other and anticipate each others moves.