This 1968 feature about Hungarians joining the Red Army during the 1918 Russian civil war was the first feature by Miklos Jancso I ever saw, and it proved to be an excellent introduction to his work. Filmed in extremely long takes in black and white ‘Scope, with the camera frequently in gliding motion, the film, like most of Jancso’s work, is a highly choreographed historical pageant that is highly charged with erotic elements as well as meditations on the nature of power. Highly recommended. In Hungarian with subtitles. 90 min. (JR)