This film is based on actual letters German soldiers sent home from the siege of Leningrad during World War II. The litany of trouble these poor grunts endured is lamentable. One complains of returning home an invalid. An SS man has bad dreams about the Russian tank-driver he killed. Another complains when he sits down to hear a piano recital and one of the musicians has frozen fingers. Another soldier swears he will never forgive his father for injuries he suffered in the invasion of Leningrad. Stock footage of wars from World War II to Vietnam are inserted and give an ironic tinge to the feature.

Cast

Alberto Cavalcanti

Astronomer

Paul Crauchet

Pianist

Pierre Tabard

Kurt Hankka

Frédérique Meininger

Nurse

Gilles Ségal

Paul

James Cellier

Private

Gilles Katz

SS captain

Patricia Saint-Georges

Karl's wife