“Saints and Soldiers” is a 2003 war drama film directed by Ryan Little, set during World War II. The film follows a group of American soldiers who are stranded behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France after their unit is massacred.
Synopsis:
The film begins with a massacre of American soldiers by the German army near the town of Malmedy, Belgium in 1944. A few soldiers manage to escape and find themselves stranded behind enemy lines. They include a medic named Gould, a sharpshooter named Kendrick, an intelligence officer named Gunderson, and a recently rescued and traumatized prisoner of war named Deacon. The soldiers must work together to avoid capture and make their way back to safety.
Review:
“Saints and Soldiers” is a well-crafted and suspenseful film that captures the horrors of war and the resilience of the human spirit. The film features strong performances from its cast, particularly Kirby Heyborne as Gould and Corbin Allred as Kendrick. The film’s direction and cinematography are also noteworthy, with Little effectively conveying the tension and chaos of battle.
While the film may not break new ground in terms of storytelling, it is a compelling and engaging war drama that will appeal to fans of the genre. It is a testament to the power of human courage and the bonds that can form between soldiers in times of crisis.
Awards:
“Saints and Soldiers” did not receive any major awards, but it was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $1.3 million at the box office. The film has since developed a cult following and spawned two sequels: “Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed” (2012) and “Saints and Soldiers: The Void” (2014).
Directed by | Ryan Little |
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Produced by | Adam Abel Ryan Little |
Screenplay by | Geoffrey Panos Matt Whitaker |
Story by | Geoffrey Panos |
Starring | Corbin Allred, Alexander Niver, Kirby Heyborne, Lawrence Bagby, Peter Asle Holden, |
Music by | Jason Bateman Bart Hendrickson |
Cinematography | Ryan Little |
Edited by | Wynn Hougaard |
Production companies |
Go Films Medal of Honor Productions LLC |
Distributed by | Excel Entertainment Group |
Release date | August 6, 2004 |
Running time | 90 minutes |
Country | United States |
Languages | English German |
Budget | $780,000 |
Box office | $1.3 million |