have not read the book and i be more open to the fresh interpretation that each director give to their medium ( which be film and not to the letter reproduction of literature ) on this particular film . i be happy that the holocaust that occur in russia ( and it neighbor country ) finally receive some attention . the nazi be particularly cruel to russian and russian jew . if you read the history and see the monument build in smolensk and nearby region you will understand this movie and why many keep silent when they should have speak up . it be certainly time for this to be chronicle and i hope that more story will come out of this . it high time .