by Mark Deming
synopsis
A Russian village struggles through the German occupation during World War II in this tense drama from the Soviet Union. As the town doctor finds his home has been taken by German troops, his daughter becomes involved in the anti-Axis resistance, and his son -- confined to a mental hospital -- escapes to fight the invading armies. Directed by Abram Room, who is best remembered for his silent features, Nashestvie was originally released in 1945, then revised for re-release in 1968; it enjoyed a revival at the retrospective on Soviet cinema at the 2000 Locarno Film Festival.
