From now on, in addition to the general and lawful discipline the young soldiers are subject to ruthless abuse by the so-called “grandfathers” (a term denoting a soldier in his second year of service). The filmmaker somehow got the army’s permission to allow him to do “reality” filming of raw and shocking scenes. On the other hand, he somehow persuaded the soldiers not to feel ashamed in front of the camera.
We observe shocking scenes of unconstrained bullying and degradation. In the toilets and shower rooms the older soldiers abuse, beat and punch the younger, getting them to perform various personal services, providing them with cigarettes, money, vodka. Although we are only shown such scenes in the toilets, it is clear that abuse and humiliation pursue the younger soldiers everywhere: in the barracks, on the parade grounds, on marches, during military drill and exercises and, finally, in battle.
The director shows us scenes of everyday life in this Saratov garrison. Two soldiers armed with a pick and shovel slowly, like slaves, dig a hole. A junior officer oversees them, smokes and spits to the side, and orders them to continue working. Later we find out that these holes are intended for poles with barbed wire ringing the base. A colonel in command of the base appears, and reproaches a junior officer for leaving some holes in the fence. That officer explains that there isn’t enough barbed wire at the depot, that there isn’t even any colored paper to hide the gaps in the fencing. Pervading everything is an atmosphere of laziness and Potemkin villages.
We observe shocking scenes of unconstrained bullying and degradation. In the toilets and shower rooms the older soldiers abuse, beat and punch the younger, getting them to perform various personal services, providing them with cigarettes, money, vodka. Although we are only shown such scenes in the toilets, it is clear that abuse and humiliation pursue the younger soldiers everywhere: in the barracks, on the parade grounds, on marches, during military drill and exercises and, finally, in battle.
The director shows us scenes of everyday life in this Saratov garrison. Two soldiers armed with a pick and shovel slowly, like slaves, dig a hole. A junior officer oversees them, smokes and spits to the side, and orders them to continue working. Later we find out that these holes are intended for poles with barbed wire ringing the base. A colonel in command of the base appears, and reproaches a junior officer for leaving some holes in the fence. That officer explains that there isn’t enough barbed wire at the depot, that there isn’t even any colored paper to hide the gaps in the fencing. Pervading everything is an atmosphere of laziness and Potemkin villages.