The Beast (DVD)

Made in 1988, The Beast is a war film set in 1981 during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, following the crew of a Soviet T-62 tank that gets seperated from its unit and ends up in a barren desert valley, pursued by a group of mujahadeen warriors who are out for revenge after the tank unit mercilessly slaughtered the inhabitants of their tiny village. Indeed, the film opens with the attack on the settlement, in which one prominent village leader is mercilessly crushed under the wheels of the T-62 at the behest of its unhinged commander, Daskal. The film is part anti-war film, part psychological thriller, the focus being split between Taj- the new Khan after ...  Read the complete review

This is either one of the most offensive films I?ve ever seen, or one of the funniest. Possibly both, although for me the ludicrous humour outweighs the potential offensiveness. Made in 1975, it was banned in the UK until last year, when the BBFC, for reasons that I can?t even begin to fathom, passed it uncut for video and DVD release. Walerian Borowczyk, the film?s director, started out as a Polish animator in the 50s (I think he was a contemporary of Svankmajer). He moved to the more liberal West, and started making live-action films, the first few of which were reasonably ...  Read the complete review

Set in the Afghan war of the 1980s, this film focuses on a cat and mouse chase through the deserts of Afghanistan. A russian tank crew in a T-72 tank bombard a small village in Afghan territory, murdering civilians under the orders of their commander, the tank crew consists of about 6/7 men (I forget now). A small group of ill-equipped mujaheddin guerilla fighters however seek revenge, and they are not prepared to stop to get this tank crew. What makes this film so amazing is that you never know who to support, I've heard that said before about films but this is the first where I have felt attached to both sides. For a considerable amount of time we see ...  Read the complete review