Very moving conversation between Gen. Bogan and his Soviet counterpart

Yeah, this is to counter Groteschele's paranoia that they are not like us. Nice touch.




I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

To me, this was the most powerful part of the movie. At first, the Soviets are a faceless adversary. Even when Bogan was cooperating with Marshal Nevski, it was still just a faceless voice with all the lingering mistrust that led others to defy or be reluctant to follow orders to aid the Soviets. Even Nevski retained his own doubts of our sincerity, which resulted in his orders to go after a decoy plane. But then, after Nevski's failure and collapse, a file was given to Bogan on Nevski's successor, which contained a photo of the person. No longer a faceless voice, the barriers begin to come down. The two are able to share common experiences, with Bogan even asking if his counterpart was about to die in Moscow. -Bogan even started to ask if his family was still in Moscow, but couldn't even finish the question. "It's been a hard day."

Roast beef and swiss,
On marble rye bread,
With lettuce, onion,
And horseradish spread.

Less than twenty years before-truly a short time, the American and Soviet officers were allies against an even Bigger Enemy, which was Hitler's Nazism-despite the Cold War animosities, it must have been hard amongst many involved who had lived those days, to have to face off against one another, as enemies-especially those younger Russian officers, that knew that-without the West's help, they'd have suffered even more from Germany's War machine...so to them, indeed, Americans were Friends-and viceversa-those who'd been near the Russians, knew how much they suffered...it's indeed a poignant moment...Russians are incurable Romantics, and this scene shows just how much that poor Russian officer knew he was painted against a corner, and there was nothing that could be done about it, but also knew it was not their former ally's complete fault either...

They were indeed Friends, in the only way Soldiers of different Nations face a Common enemy-even if they later became foes, they showed respect and solidarity for each other...the fact that, when looking at his dossier, the American sees a Noble-looking man, with the worldly sadness of a man who'd seen Death and Destruction, and another image that showed this man as a Loving husband and father, was evidently a way to debunk the image that Walter's character wants to put forward of Soviets as inhuman creatures...

Very effectively acted. I just saw it again tonight and it really stood out.