Saints and Soldiers (2003)

Director: Ryan Little

Cast: Corbin Allred as Cpl. Nathan 'Deacon' Greer, Alexander Polinsky as Medic Steven Gould (as Alexander Niver), Kirby Heyborne as Flt. Sgt. Oberon Winley, Larry Bagby as Pvt. Shirley 'Shirl' Kendrick (as Lawrence Bagby), Peter Holden as SSgt. Gordon Gunderson, Ethan Vincent as Rudolph 'Rudi' Gertz, Melinda Renee as Catherine Theary, Ruby Chase O'Neil as Sophie Theary, Jeff Birk as Radio Announcer, Ben Gourley as Private McKinley, Tane Williams as Injured One-Armed Soldier, Randy Beard as German Officer #1, Curt Dousett as German Soldier #1, Michael Buster as German Soldier #2, M. Casey Reeves as Weeping Soldier

This is a very simple story, told in a very simple way.A group of
soldiers escape capture and fight their way to rejoin friendly forces.
Nothing new or unusual there. However Ryan Little has managed to tell
this simple story with a great sense of compassion and feeling. So much
so that at times I had to remind myself that this was a story of war.
Little manages to do what many others have failed in the modern war
movie, let the story take preference over special effects and shock
tactics.

The largely unheralded cast turn in steady, rather than spectacular,
performances. Yet they work well within the over all feel of the movie,
showing that war is fought by, in the most part, ordinary people under
extraordinary circumstances. At times the pace was a little labored,
particularly at the farmhouse. The relationship with the mother and
child seemed to develop too quickly, somehow become pivotal almost
instantly. This aside, character development occurs at a natural and
easy pace. All these men are people we will meet in our own lives,
bringing the story even closer to the audience.

This is one of the most satisfying war movies that I have seen for a
long while. Without the big budgets and extreme violence, this little
gem delivers a fantastic reward for those who take the time to watch.

8.5/10