Though World War II has received vast film exposure through stories exploring the Jewish Holocaust and the roles of various European and Asian nations in the war, Hollywood has largely ignored the Russian contribution to the War. While Enemy at the Gates offers little actual insight into the complete Russian perspective, it certainly provides quality drama, action, and romance.
The film takes place during the Russian effort to retake Stalingrad from the Germans. Through the course of the battle, we see the plight of Russian soldiers whose commanding officers don't hesitate to kill deserters. Towards the end of that round of battle, a soldier by the name of Vasily Zaitsev (Jude Law) pushes the envelope of courage and picks off five high-ranking officers. The event, viewed by a political officer named Danilov (Joseph Fiennes) is spun into a massive propaganda campaign to raise the morale of Russian troops. Soon, Vasily's sniper exploits are recounted by the papers, and a hero is born. Torn between the two men is Tanya (Rachel Weisz), a German-speaking Russian, with her own agenda in fighting the war. As news of Vasily's exploits reach Germany, Major Konig (Ed Harris), a lead sniper of the Germans, is brought in to lay Vasily's legend to rest and with that, crush the remaining spirit of the Russian soldiers. What begins is a harrowing cat-and-mouse game through various areas of the city, as the story creatively manages to have this 'one-on-one' represent the battles fought between the Germans and Russians.
Jean-Jacques Annaud has displayed a visual deftness that is evident in every scene; the battle scenes evoke ferocity as much as the duels of the snipers amplify the tension. Enemy is certainly a larger scale film than his previous efforts such as Seven Years in Tibet and The Bear. Jude Law truly glows with the status and presence of any acting icon, while Fiennes and Wiesz do very credible work. Ed Harris, though given few speaking lines, truly chews each scene, portraying Konig as a true cold-blooded wolf; he offers presence and an allure comparable to those of any of his other notable performances.
There are certain flaws that hinder the movie. One such nuisance is an intrusive score by James Horner, which too often evokes similarities to the theme of John Williams' Schindler's List. Another plot line involving a rather condemning letter written by Danilov about Vasily is swept under the proverbial carpet.
Enemy at the Gates shows the brutality of the last great war, while coating it with an air of romance, long lost after Hollywood has buried audiences with the dark realities of Vietnam. While not achieving the level of a classic, it can hold its own amongst the best.