Batalon

BATTALION:

Russia.

Spring 1917.

The First World War has waged for three years.

The empire is crumbling.

Political dissent has wrecked the country.

The army has been destroyed.

A Provisional Government headed

by Alexander Kerenskiy has taken charge.

Times are tough, chaotic and desperate...

- Thanks!

- Good luck, Lieutenant.

- To the city. Dvorcovaja Street.

- Three rubles...

That rate is apalling.

It used to be one ruble.

It looks like you haven't visited

St. Petersburg in a while, sir.

One ruble is worthless since february.

Go!

- You came from the frontline?

- The front of the frontline...

Since Kerenskiy is in charge,

it has been a chaos here.

Many people were released...

Political prisoners, thugs, murderers...

All kinds of lunatics walk the streets at night.

There is no law.

And there is a new police.

What do they do?

Absolutely nothing!

Just like at the front.

Nadya, you sound a bit apathetic.

You pause for too long.

Mom, I sing the way maestro Piccoli taught me.

I'm your mother and I know what's right.

And...

Miss, Miss...

A letter from the front.

Mom...

What happened?

- Nadya... Nadenjka, what happened?

- Petya was killed.

He was engaged to...

...Vera..

I'll take revenge.

I've come to say goodbye.

I'm off to the front.

I'm going to the Bochkareva women's battalion.

I'm leaving at once.

Me too.

Nadya, what are you talking about?

I'll join Vera, Mom.

Froska... Frosenjka, bring her back!

Please, bring her back!

What can I do?

Wait, wait...

I'll give you what you want!

Just get her back, please!

I'll do everything I can...

Thank you, thank you very much...

I will, ma'am.

Thank you very much...

- Here and thank you.

- You're welcome.

Lieutenant... What happened?

Where were you?

God only knows.

The train only went to New Peterhof.

I had to improvise

a way to get here.

So, gentlemen.

Our main attack will be

on the southwestern front.

The Eleventh and Seventh Army will go to Lviv.

The Eighth Army...

Please excuse me, gentlemen...

Please excuse me, gentlemen...

there are more important things now.

We need to develop a plan of attack.

I am skeptical about the

combat readiness of our army.

What do you think?

I'll be honest.

The soldiers have been blinded by idiotic

slogans about a false freedom.

They don't want to fight.

What are you talking about?

False freedom?

Our department is preparing a report on...

the state of combat readiness

at the moment.

- I'll show you the report.

- Go ahead, Colonel. Proceed.

- Don't beat around the bush.

- Sure.

Please, open the curtains!

If you don't mind.

A projector!

Turn off the lights, please!

Go!

This is part of the 256th Elisabeth regiment.

The soldiers refuse to fight.

They organize meetings

and hang out with the Germans.

The Germans encourage them to revolt.

They offer them alcohol...

Their pamphlets are written in correct Russian.

And this is the 525th Regiment,

First Siberian Corps.

The idea of freedom,

together with a good German brandy,

leaves them completely unfit for the army.

They're not interested in defending the homeland,

and the Soviet army is falling apart.

Stop!

That's enough!

Turn on the lights!

Colonel, I don't like these images.

To me, this looks like skillfully

edited material and nothing more.

Mr. Kerenskiy, please remember...

I'm an officer,

not a cheating thief.

Open the curtains, please!

If you want to save the army and the state,

we need to restore the death penalty.

Desertion, mingling with the enemy..

and disrespect for superiors

must be punished with the death penalty.

- Bravo, Colonel.

- Be quiet!

Only a miracle can save us.

No, not a miracle...

but concrete actions of the Provisional Government.

On my command,

the Bochkareva women's battalion was created.

This will raise morale in the army.

Women will die after the first shots.

Is that what you want?

Of course not.

That is why, Mr. Polovtsev,

I order you to oversee..

preparations for sending a battalion to the front.

Next!

Excuse me, please...

name, age...

Do you have children?

- I left my family.

- So go! Next!

Vera!

Next!

How nice...

Please, request a medical examination.

Next!

Application form.

Kolokolchikova Evdovkiya Efimovna.

What are you doing here?

18 years, no children.

You are too short for service.

The doctors will decide about that.

Please, type:
Evdovkiya Efimovna.

Are you crazy?

War is not for women.

I'll be with you.

Why act so strange? Sign me up!

Nadezhda Petrovna!

Froska!

I'm going with you!

My dear!

I went with Vera.

Hello, Vera Dmitrina!

Frosenjka!

Name, Age!

-36, Nadezhda Sergeyevna......

I'm from the country...

Name, Age!

Medical Examination.

- I serve the Countess Tatishcheva.

- You will serve the fatherland.

Ma'am, step aside.

You were rejected.

I don't understand...

Svistunova Galina Mikhailovna.

Why was I rejected?

It's obvious, you're too fat.

Me?

I'm fat?

Do you have children?

- I'm fat...

- Where are you going?

So I'm fat?

Well, I'm not just fat...

I'm strong as well.

Look at that.

Why did you come here?

To destroy our facility?

No...

I want to go fight, ma'am.

If I can bend a poker...

I can do the same with the Germans, right?

What's your name?

Dusya Grynyova.

Evdovkiya Grynyova,

I appoint you as my Deputy.

- Nikolai Alexandrovich!

- Yes!

- Get her papers ready!

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