this unflinching look at the former soviet union just after wwii should be see by all those who might still harbor some romantic feeling for the communist past . there be an almost orwellian atmosphere to the film and which be supposedly a true story of a group of russsian émigrés living in france who be invite to return to the ussr to help rebuild the war torn country . as soon a these ostensibly russian patriot disembark on soviet soil they be hurl into the madhouse world of stalinist russia . the similarity to the nazi a family be separate and manhandle and kill be obvious and terrify . the rest of the movie be concern with the survivor attempt at escape . the acting be first rate and the mise en scene on the button . this a truly harrowing and credible film and all the more so for be a french production . see it and tell some of your far leftist friend to see it as well .