But here is the masterstroke of the film:
If you only watch one war film from post-Soviet cinema, make it 9th Company ( 9-Ta Kompania ). 9-Ta Kompania
As the sun rises, the handful of survivors survey the carnage. They have won. They have held the line. A helicopter arrives, not with ammunition, but with news. The radio crackles: But here is the masterstroke of the film:
Here is why this film still stings, nearly two decades later. The film follows a group of young recruits drafted into the Soviet Army during the final years of the Afghan War (1979-1989). We watch them transform from clumsy, frightened boys into hardened soldiers. They have held the line
9/10 Watch it for: The final battle sequence and the last five minutes of silence. Warning: Bring tissues. And maybe a stiff drink. Have you seen 9th Company? Do you think it is better than Platoon? Let me know in the comments below.
But here is the gut-punch.
