Enemy At The Gates

Enemy At The Gates is the 2001 movie directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, director of such films as In The Name Of The Rose and Seven Years In Tibet. The movie stars Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Joseph Fiennes, Ed Harris, Ron Perlman and Bob Hoskins.

The movie is set in late 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad where the Russians desperately try to fend off the Nazis. In the midst of this a young Russian sharpshooter, Vassili Zaitsev (Jude Law), emerges as the hope of the nation. He is catapulted into the role of hero by political officer Danilov (Joseph Fiennes) who feels that the Russians need heros and rolemodels to follow and turns Zaitsev into a propaganda object to boost the flagging morale. From that point on their careers and lives become entwined.

As Zaitsev's bodycount and popularity rise, the Germans send in their top sharpshooter, Major König (Ed Harris), to take down the young Russian. A game of cat and mouse ensues as each tries to outwit the other, set against the backdrop of one of the pivotal moments in history. Zaitsev also begins to feel that he cannot live up to the pressure put upon him to succeed against the German sharpshooter.

Zaitsev and Danilov also find themselves in a love triangle, as Tania Chernova (Rachel Weisz) captures both their affections.

Links

The Official Enemy At The Gates Website