Taras Bulba (1962)

Taras Bulba

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Dec 12, 2006

Pros: Fine cast, oscar nominated musical score

Cons: Storyline does not follow the Gogol novel

Despite lacking a true parallel to Gogol's nineteenth century novel, the tale of a man's love for his country and people and the sacrifice of his son to prove that love makes for a powerful story.
Some of the historical references tend to simplify the beauty of the Ukrainian people and their traditions and customs, but the scope of the picture attempts to capture some of it. Ukrainians are a fiercely loyal and religious people, but the film emphasizes the vodka and barbarism of death as a way of life rather than showing how deeply emotional and freedom-loving the people are/were.
As quoted from the Harvard University film "Harvest of Despair"..."Ukr
ainains never adapted to living with chains."
They always wanted to be free, to rule their own land...but others wanted it over the centuries as much as they did.