i would recommend this a the most successful attempt so far to make a movie on soviet afghan war . and it be very honest and responsible picture start from small detail of uniform and weapon up to human relation and war routine and central asian landscape . it be shoot in tajikistan just after the the troop withdrawal which happen in 1989 not in 1985. the italian star mr. placido be just perfect in the role of major bandura . other character look also very natural especially always drink club manage officer represent ) . the scenario seem a bit jam in the end but it might be an impact of the civil war in tajikistan which have start right during the shooting of the film . all movie team have to escape sometimes even under fire . the last scene be purely harakiri type of behavior and remind me the final phrase from one famous samurai movie we have win all battle but lose the war . it could be also a metaphor of ussr collapse the great country allow to shoot itself to the back by the small offend child .