NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Enemy at the Gates

Enemy at the Gates is a 2001 motion picture directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, starring Jude Law and Ed Harris. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 402 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (506 Ã— 755 pixel, file size: 69 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This image is of a poster, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher or the creator of the work depicted. ... Jean-Jacques Annaud Jean-Jacques Annaud (born October 1, 1943) is a French film director. ... Jean-Jacques Annaud Jean-Jacques Annaud (born October 1, 1943) is a French film director. ... Jean-Jacques Annaud Jean-Jacques Annaud (born October 1, 1943) is a French film director. ... David Jude Law (born 29 December 1972) is an BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated British actor. ... For other persons of the same name, see Edward Harris. ... Rachel Weisz (born March 7, 1971) is an Academy Award-winning English film and television actress. ... Joseph Alberic Fiennes (IPA: ) (born May 27, 1970) is an English film and stage actor. ... James Roy Horner (born August 14, 1953) is an American composer of orchestral and film music. ... Robert Fraisse is a French cinematographer born in Paris in 1940. ... Humphrey Dixon is a British film editor. ... Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and distribution company, based in Hollywood, California. ... is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956â€“present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic - President George W. Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ireland. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as part of... Jean-Jacques Annaud Jean-Jacques Annaud (born October 1, 1943) is a French film director. ... David Jude Law (born 29 December 1972) is an BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated British actor. ... For other persons of the same name, see Edward Harris. ...

The film's title is taken from William Craig's 1973 nonfiction book Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad, which describes the events surrounding the Battle of Stalingrad from 1942-1943.^[1]. It is based on a duel mentioned in the book that developed between Soviet sniper Vasily Grigoryevich Zaytsev and his German rival, Major Erwin König, as they stalk each other during the battle. The movie is also partially based on the book War of the Rats. William Craig (1929 - 1997) was an American author and historian. ... Belligerents Germany Romania Italy Hungary Soviet Union Commanders Adolf Hitler Friedrich Paulus # Erich von Manstein Wolfram von Richthofen Petre Dumitrescu Constantin Constantinescu Italo Gariboldi GusztÃ¡v VitÃ©z JÃ¡ny Josef Stalin Vasiliy Chuikov Aleksandr Vasilyevskiy Georgiy Zhukov Semyon Timoshenko Konstantin Rokossovskiy Rodion Malinovskiy Andrei Yeremenko Strength Army Group B... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... CCCP redirects here. ... For other uses, see Sniper (disambiguation). ... Captain Vasily Grigoryevich Zaytsev (Russian: IPA: ) (March 23, 1915â€“December 15, 1991) was a Soviet sniper during World War II, notable particularly for his activities between November 10 and December 17, 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad. ... Major is a military rank the use of which varies according to country. ... Erwin KÃ¶nig (1885? - October 21, 1941) (also known as Heinz Thorvald) was an apparently apocryphal German major, propagated by the Soviets as the best World War II enemy sniper, with more than 400 kills. ...

Synopsis

Stalingrad, 1942. The German invasion of Russia has reached the city of Stalingrad, reducing the city to rubble as the Soviet and Nazi armies battle for the fate of Russia. Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law), a poorly educated peasant from the Urals conscripted into the Red Army, manages to survive both a suicidal charge without a weapon into the front lines of the German attack and the NKVD machine gunners shooting survivors who tried to flee. Acquiring a rifle, Zaitsev — an expert marksman — manages to kill five German officers in a row with the only five bullets he has, impressing a witnessing political officer, Danilov (Joseph Fiennes). Writing an account of Zaitsev's achievement in the military newspaper, Danilov manages to inspire the broken, morale-sapped people of the Soviet Union to renew their efforts against the German invaders, and Zaitsev becomes a national hero and propaganda icon. Stalingrad is the former name of two cities: Volgograd, Russia Karviná-Nové Město, near Ostrava, Czech Republic Other uses: The Battle of Stalingrad (a major turning-point of World War II and arguably the bloodiest battle in human history) Stalingrad (German film set during the above battle) Stalingrad (metro station... Combatants Soviet Union,[1] Poland, Tannu Tuva (until 1944 incorporation with USSR), Mongolia Germany,[2] Italy (to 1943), Romania (to 1944), Finland (to 1944), Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Spain (to 1943, unofficial) Commanders Joseph Stalin, Aleksei Antonov, Ivan Konev, Rodion Malinovsky, Ivan Bagramyan, Kirill Meretskov, Ivan Petrov, Alexander Rodimtsev, Konstantin Rokossovsky... David Jude Law (born 29 December 1972) is an BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated British actor. ... The Ural Mountains, (Russian: Ура́льские го́ры = Ура́л) also known simply as the Urals, are a mountain range that run roughly north and south through western Russia. ... For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ... The NKVD (Narodny Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del ) (Russian: , ) or Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the leading secret police organization of the Soviet Union that was responsible for political repressions during Stalinism. ... A political commissar is an officer appointed by a government to oversee a unit of the military. ... Joseph Alberic Fiennes (IPA: ) (born May 27, 1970) is an English film and stage actor. ... Soviet redirects here. ...

The bond between the two men is to be tested, as both have fallen in love with Tanya (Rachel Weisz), a Jewish citizen of the city who, inspired by Zaitsev, has joined the sniper division. Fearing the Soviet snipers and the demoralizing effect they are having on their own men, the Germans have sent for Major Erwin König (Ed Harris), the best sniper in the German military, to seek out and eliminate Zaitsev. Rachel Weisz (born March 7, 1971) is an Academy Award-winning English film and television actress. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Erwin KÃ¶nig (1885? - October 21, 1941) (also known as Heinz Thorvald) was an apparently apocryphal German major, propagated by the Soviets as the best World War II enemy sniper, with more than 400 kills. ... For other persons of the same name, see Edward Harris. ... For other uses, see Sniper (disambiguation). ...

Plot

The story focuses on the exploits of Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law), a Ural peasant who was taught how to hunt and shoot by his grandfather, now fighting on the Eastern Front of World War II. A Red Army soldier, he is traveling in a train's cattle truck along with other soldiers and civilians, where he notices a young woman (Rachel Weisz) before the train is converted into a military convoy headed for Stalingrad, a city that is now under attack by the German Army. Upon arriving on the city's outskirts, the soldiers attempt to cross the Volga on unprotected river barges, bombarded by German dive bombers and artillery, resulting in many casualties. When the survivors disembark on the other side, only half of them are given Mosin-Nagant rifles, while the rest - among them Vassili - are given only a five round clip of ammunition. As their fellows are shot down, the men with the clips are to use the dead men's rifles. In a hopeless charge against the well-armed Germans, the Red Army soldiers are massacred both by the enemy, and by the Soviet commissars who shoot anyone who retreats. Vassili Zaitsev was a sniper during World War 2. ... David Jude Law (born 29 December 1972) is an BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated British actor. ... For other organizations known as the Red Army, see Red Army (disambiguation). ... Rachel Weisz (born March 7, 1971) is an Academy Award-winning English film and television actress. ... Stalingrad is the former name of two cities: Volgograd, Russia Karviná-Nové Město, near Ostrava, Czech Republic Other uses: The Battle of Stalingrad (a major turning-point of World War II and arguably the bloodiest battle in human history) Stalingrad (German film set during the above battle) Stalingrad (metro station... For other meanings of the word Volga see Volga (disambiguation) Волга Length 3,690 km Elevation of the source 225 m Average discharge ? m³/s Area watershed 1. ... The Mosin-Nagant (Мосин-Наган) is a military rifle of Russia and later the Soviet Union, in service in various forms from 1891 until the 1960s, when it was finally replaced in its final function as a sniper rifle by the SVD rifle (Снайперская винтовка Драгунова - Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova - Dragunov...

After the battle, a car races through the streets, under artillery fire. Knocked off the road, the driver - Danilov (Joseph Fiennes), a Soviet political officer - flees to the safety of a drained fountain and feigns death amongst the corpses within. Here he comes upon Vasili, and watches with amazement as the young soldier kills five nearby German soldiers with five shots from the Mosin-Nagant rifle Danilov hands him. Later, Nikita Khrushchev (Bob Hoskins) arrives in Stalingrad to coordinate the city's defences. He demands suggestions to improve morale, and Danilov suggests publicizing "heroes" for the people to idolize. Vasily's exploits are soon national news, and he is transferred from the regular forces to the Soviet sniper division. As Zaitsev and his fellow snipers take their toll on the German forces, he and Danilov — the author of the articles — become firm friends. Vasily then learns that the girl he had seen on the train (Tanya), is a member of the local militia. Danilov, smitten with the woman, arranges to have her transferred to an intelligence/intercept unit away from the battlefield. Joseph Alberic Fiennes (IPA: ) (born May 27, 1970) is an English film and stage actor. ... A political commissar is an officer appointed by a communist party to oversee a unit of the military. ... The Mosin-Nagant (Мосин-Наган) is a military rifle of Russia and later the Soviet Union, in service in various forms from 1891 until the 1960s, when it was finally replaced in its final function as a sniper rifle by the SVD rifle (Снайперская винтовка Драгунова - Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova - Dragunov... Khrushchev redirects here. ... Robert William Bob Hoskins Jr. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

With Zaitsev's increasing fame, and the high casualties (especially officers) being inflicted by the Soviet snipers, Major Erwin König (Ed Harris) is deployed to Stalingrad to help counter this new threat. A renowned marksman himself, head of the German Army Sniper School, the aristocratic König immediately begins plotting how to best take out young Zaitsev. Erwin KÃ¶nig (1885? - October 21, 1941) (also known as Heinz Thorvald) was an apparently apocryphal German major, propagated by the Soviets as the best World War II enemy sniper, with more than 400 kills. ... For other persons of the same name, see Edward Harris. ...

The next day, Vasili and two other snipers are assigned to kill a German sniper lurking in the Department Store sector. Zaitsev apparently dispatches the enemy with a single shot. When they go to retrieve the man's dog tags, they discover that it was only a decoy. The still-hidden König kills the other snipers while Zaitsev manages to escape in the confusion caused by a German air raid. When the Red Army command learns that Major König was sent to specifically kill Vasili, a fellow sniper (and former student of König's before the war) named Koulikov (Ron Perlman) is assigned to assist Vasili in fighting the Major. König's skill and resourcefulness prove to be too much, however, and in a failed plan to draw him out, Koulikov is killed, shaking Vasili's spirits considerably. For the business executive, see Ronald Perelman. ...

Danilov has since recruited a double agent - a young boy named Sacha Fillipov (Gabriel Marshall-Thomson), a patriotic youth who occasionally does small jobs for the Germans. Sacha is positioned to give König false information about Vasili's whereabouts, allowing Vasili opportunities to ambush him. The Major eventually learns of Sacha's betrayal, and hangs the boy publicly in an effort to bait Vasili. Sacha Fillipov Sacha Fillipov (1927 - December 24, 1942) was a spy for the Red Army during the Battle of Stalingrad. ... Gabriel Thomson (born October 27, 1986) is an British actor, born in South London. ...

Running alongside the main plot is Vasili and Danilov's attraction to Tanya, which causes underlying tension between the two men amidst the chaotic atmosphere, especially when Tanya finally chooses Vasili as her lover. This personal conflict comes to a head when Tanya is presumed to be dead after being struck down by shrapnel. As Vasili and Danilov hunt for König to avenge Sacha, Danilov laments his jealousy for Vasili and his disenchantment with the communist cause as a result. Danilov then exposes himself in a final act of friendship, allowing König to shoot him — revealing the Major's position. König goes to inspect the body, assuming it is Vasili, but is quickly shot by Vasili.

Two months later, it is revealed that Stalingrad is liberated and Zaitsev finds Tanya in a hospital, safely evacuated and recovering.

Main cast

David Jude Law (born 29 December 1972) is an BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated British actor. ... Captain Vasily Grigoryevich Zaytsev (Russian: IPA: ) (March 23, 1915â€“December 15, 1991) was a Soviet sniper during World War II, notable particularly for his activities between November 10 and December 17, 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... For other persons of the same name, see Edward Harris. ... Major is a military rank the use of which varies according to country. ... Erwin KÃ¶nig (1885? - October 21, 1941) (also known as Heinz Thorvald) was an apparently apocryphal German major, propagated by the Soviets as the best World War II enemy sniper, with more than 400 kills. ... Rachel Weisz (born March 7, 1971) is an Academy Award-winning English film and television actress. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Joseph Alberic Fiennes (IPA: ) (born May 27, 1970) is an English film and stage actor. ... A political commissar is an officer appointed by a government to oversee a unit of the military. ... Robert William Bob Hoskins Jr. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Khrushchev redirects here. ... For the business executive, see Ronald Perelman. ... Eva Mattes (born on 14 December 1954, in Tegernsee, Germany is a German-Austrian actress. ... Gabriel Thomson (born October 27, 1986) is an English actor from in London. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Matthias Habich (born January 12, 1940) is a German actor. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Note: This article is about the military usage of the word marshal. For other usages, see the end of this article. ... Friedrich Paulus. ...

Location

Stalingrad is the former name of two cities: Volgograd, Russia Karviná-Nové Město, near Ostrava, Czech Republic Other uses: The Battle of Stalingrad (a major turning-point of World War II and arguably the bloodiest battle in human history) Stalingrad (German film set during the above battle) Stalingrad (metro station... This article is about the capital of Germany. ... For other meanings of the word Volga see Volga (disambiguation) Волга Length 3,690 km Elevation of the source 225 m Average discharge ? m³/s Area watershed 1. ... Cottbus (Lower Sorbian: ChÃ³Å›ebuz, Polish: ChociebuÅ¼) is a city in Brandenburg, Germany, situated around 125 km southeast of Berlin on the River Spree. ...

Criticism

The film was criticized both in Russia and in the West for taking considerable liberties with the facts; in both its plot and in the depictions of its characters (notably Fiennes' character, Danilov, and the German sniper König), it varies widely from the historical record.^{[citation needed]}

Some Soviet Stalingrad veterans were so offended by inaccuracies in the movie and what they saw as the insulting way in which it portrays the Red Army, that on 7 May 2001, soon after it was shown in Russia, they addressed their grievances to the State Duma (the Russian Parliament), demanding the film be banned, but this request was not granted. is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

Historian Anthony Beevor suggests in his book, Stalingrad, that, while Zaitsev was definitely a real person, the story of his duel (dramatized in the film) with König is fictional. William Craig's book Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad however, states that although Zaitsev and König fought against each other in combat, the sequence of events in the film is almost entirely fictional.^{[citation needed]} Antony Beevor (born in 1946) is an historian, educated at Winchester College and Sandhurst. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

References

Jean-Jacques Annaud Jean-Jacques Annaud (born October 1, 1943) is a French film director. ... Constantin Film AG is a German film production and film distribution company. ...

External links

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Metacritic is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows, DVDs and books. ... Kansas State University, officially called Kansas State University of Fashion and Design [2] but commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States. ... Box Office Mojo is a website that tracks box office revenue in a systematic way. ...

Contents

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