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Visually astonishing erotically charged and emotionally jarring '100 Days Before The Command' is Hussein Erkanov's courageous and stinging indictment of Communism. Five young Red Army recruits struggle for survival against the merciless violence that surrounds them on a daily basis. Their only means of saving their dignity is by preserving the humanity and compassion they share for each other. Although not an overly gay film Erkenov's '100 Days Before The Command' is remarkably direct in its homoerotic imagery and subtexts. The film includes scenes where the soldiers share an intimacy and tenderness that is far removed from the brutality of most of their waking hours. Amazingly all the roles are played by real life soldiers except for one professional actor. Banned by Soviet censors upon its initial release '100 Days Before The Command' is a unique entry into the world of post cold war filmaking from behind the former Iron Curtain.
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