In Tranzit (2008)

Boring

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

I would like to commend the producers for creating a film with unique concept incomparable to other war movies, because instead of tackling the rampant theme of war, they tackled the post-war situation.First, in criticizing this film, we don't actually have to deal much about the screen portrayals because the movie does not include heavy drama. However, even if it does not, we still have to appreciate the fact that the actors and actresses really did well in portraying and none of them were over acting. Although, we cannot disavow as well, that there were some who were under acting.Second, I love the fact that the producers did not frontline script to make a beautiful movie. They made it as realistic as it could be, for it seemed more natural than others.Third, The musical scoring is on average, but one thing that really depressed me is the playing of violin by one of the prisoners that wasn't synchronized with the video.Fourth, I was expecting something more on what I can see on the screen -- something like extreme panning of cameras to switch scenes or some amazing CGIs to depict extreme cruelty -- but then everything seemed to be mainstream.Fifth, the video quality was good. It was not that dark so that we can clearly see what's happening on screen. It was not that light neither that gives a hinge of some historic feeling.Lastly, The whole 113 minutes was dull. The only variations were the few sexualities which were obviously done to attract and catch viewers. They may use "It's a true story" as an excuse for having no pinnacle scenes other than the sexualities, but I believe it could have been better if they used some cliffhangers to retain, for at least, the interest of the viewers.Overall, I'd give it a rating of 7 out of 10.

Not long after the end of the Second World War German POWs are brought to a Russian camp that is run by women. The women are suppose to weed out the officers. How the two groups eventually come together and some find love, is the story. Okay film is the sort of thing that in entertaining while its on, but if it didn't have a small role for John Malkovich probably wouldn't have found any sort of wide spread release. This isn't to say that the film isn't worth your time, it is if you think your inclined to the subject matter, but at the same time I don't think this is going to be something you remember. Here I am several hours after seeing it and the only two things I remember about it was, it wasn't bad and that maybe it was a bit too long. Your reaction maybe different.

Based on several combined true, harsh and emotional stories of war. In the manic aftermath of WWII, in a strange switch of power a group of German POWs are accidentally dumped in a female-run Soviet prison camp. The women themselves remembering how it was being in a German POW camp. Memories of whole families, husbands, wives and children massacred are not wasted when the guards are ordered to weed out the SS officers hiding among the prisoners. Each group learns that some prejudices are just not totally justified. Even betrayal is not out of the question...no matter what side you are on.I really liked the whole atmosphere. It seems like you can feel the cold of the falling snow and smell the exhaust from the Soviet transport trucks. Some outstanding acting from Thomas Kretschmann, Vera Farmiga, Daniel Bruhl and John Malkovich. Also in the cast: Natalie Press, Thekia Reuten, Tatyana Yakovenko, John Lynch and Patrick Kennedy. Some may find IN TRANZIT depressing and even lumbering; you just have to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate it.

In Tranzit is a very well acted movie with a story built on character and emotion surrounding the aftermath of World War 2, rather tha just the cataclysmic large scale political effects of it. Vera Farmiga is fantastic as the Chief Medical Doctor of a post war POW camp run by women, who are supervised by the mean, sleazy, sadistic General Pavlov (John Malkovich, at his venomous best!). The man who played Farmiga's mute, shell shocked husband was also excellent. The best performance in the film however is Thomas Kretschmann, a severely underrated actor who is subtle and riveting as a German POW who falls in love with the Doctor.Overall a great movie. 8/10