this be the first film i have see where there be no plot . apparently that be the plot . a friend of mine who do his military service in the soviet army during the late 1980s say that the film portrayal of the uniform and barrack etc be very accurate . there be however no apparent mention of the dedovshina endemic in much of the russian army . dedovshina ( law of the grandad ) be the bullying ( often very violent ) of the new soldier or dushi ( spirit ) by the old soldier know a ded or dembels ( grandad ) . many have comment on the suppose homoerotic scene in the communal bath or banya and where the soldier be see wash each other down . accord to my friend this portrayal of the banya be accurate and however the homoerotic interpretation be not . in the ussr homosexuality be consider to be a mental illness and and in the soviet military it be an imprisonable offence . in addition there be substantial and often violent homophobia in russia and nowhere more so than in the military . accord to my friend if you be even suspect of be gay and let alone get turn on by the sight of your fellow soldier naked in the banya you would not have leave the banya alive literally . be warn . all in all this be a very odd film . there be clearly some deep an inner meaning in it somewhere and but i be afraid it be a bit too deep and inner for me .