You Asked for It: Ballad of a Soldier (1959)

For the inaugural entry in my every-few-weeks series of reader-requested reviews, Nathaniel won the sweepstakes, but I received the reward: I finally got around to watching this touching, heartbreaking, and gorgeously shot film about a soldier's interaction with various elements of Russian society on his way home for a brief leave (ma's roof needs fixing). Thanks, Nat: I can't imagine a better start to this series.

Read the full review.

There were so many great suggestions in my original post that I've decided to just work through those. The next one, according to Random.org, is going to be Thom's pick of Duel in the Sun (1946). Check back in a couple weeks for a review of the Western epic that (or so sez IMDB) seven directors had a hand in creating.