Review of Ivan’s Childhood (1962)
Andrei Tarkovsky (director).
A Russian scout and spy in the Great Patriotic War refuses to leave the front. He talks down to officers and shows no fear, except when he’s alone. The intelligence he gathers is invaluable. He is an orphan, twelve years old. Happy memories sweep him away in some of his dreams, but he lives only for infinite revenge.
A psychological war movie. Not a lot of carnage and no sympathetic German soldiers, but the ending is certainly not propagandistic. Excellent central character.