Review: Leningrad

Ah, Leningrad—where to even start? It’s like jumping from a sauna right into an icy vinterbad. Directed by Aleksandr Buravskiy and featuring Gabriel Byrne and Mira Sorvino, this film takes us back to that harrowing Siege of Leningrad during World War II. I tell ya, it’s not just any history lesson; it’s a damn emotional rollercoaster. Imagine listening to a heart-wrenching Chopin nocturne while grandma shells peas in the background.

Now, first things first—Gabriel Byrne? The man’s a legend, right? He’s like that really good cup of coffee you can’t quite get sick of. And Mira Sorvino? I still remember the first time I saw her in Mighty Aphrodite, her performance melted my teenage brain. Here, she tackles the desperate conditions of wartime with such grace it sends shivers up your spine.

But let’s be real here—no film’s without its flaws. There were moments where I thought: “Could we maybe speed this up a bit?” The pacing at times felt like trying to walk uphill in sludgy Göteborg rain. Still, just when I’d start to lose focus, the visuals pulled me back in. The shots of snow-covered streets, haunting and beautiful—almost like they whisper the ghosts of the past.

Remembering my granddad telling tales of wartime, I felt a kinship, a sort of collective memory dance going on. That feeling when history lessons finally resonate, right? It’s a film that kind of forces you to reckon with the past, even if you’re not much of a history buff. Maybe blame it on the Scandinavian winter darkness that makes us introspective.

Will Leningrad change your life? I dunno, but it’ll certainly make you feel something. If you’re into a good cry and the weight of history, give it a whirl. Just don’t blame me if you need to scrub the ol’ tear ducts afterward.

Check the trailer below