Commissar

In the 1920s during the Russian Civil War, a stern, hard-boiled and pregnant Red Army Commissar is ordered to live with a poor, but generous Jewish family. Amidst their warmth and compassion she is transformed into a tender and feminine mother. But when the White Army approaches, she must choose between her commitment to the Revolution and her attachment to her child. Includes brilliant montage sequences, an evocative avant-garde score, and great performances. Director Askoldov - who is not Jewish - paints a sympathetic portrait of Jews, honestly examines anti-Semitism, and makes a plea for a moral world in this masterpiece which was banned for twenty-one years. 1987 Moscow Film Festival; 1988 Berlin Film Festival; 1988 San Francisco International Film Festival.