Attack on Leningrad/The Bridge/City Of War (DVD)

'Attack On Leningrad' (2007) stars Mira Sorvino as English journalist Kate Davis, who becomes trapped within the besieged city of Leningrad at the height of the war. Separated from her lover, writer Philip Parker (Gabriel Byrne), and presumed dead, Kate is rescued by Nina Tsvetkova (Olga Sutulova), a female member of the Leningrad militia. Joining forces with a makeshift band of survivors in the famished city, the two women battle to stay alive throughout the devastating 800-day siege.

'The Bridge' (2008) is a made-for-TV remake of the classic 1959 German war film, which in turn is based on the autobiographical novel by Manfred Gregor. 16-year-old Walter (Lars Steinhofel) is having a secret affair with his widowed 29-year-old teacher Elfie (Franka Potente). When Hitler's army begins mobilising its last troops, Walter and his friends are recruited to help defend a strategically important bridge near their town. What begins as a relatively minor operation quickly descends into a life or death battle in which the idealistic young men are confronted by the brutal reality of war. Despite Elfie's desperate attempts to stop her lover from taking part in a battle she can see is useless and unwinnable, Walter's pride and blind obedience to Hitler compel him and his friends to hold their position even as the last of their superiors concede defeat.

'City of War - The Story of John Rabe' (2009), from German director Florian Gallenberger, is based on real events. Ulrich Tukur stars as John Rabe, the German businessman and card-carrying member of the Nazi party who uses his influence to save the lives of many thousands of Chinese citizens from the brutal offensive by the Japanese military during the infamous Rape of Nanking in 1937-38.

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