''Vent d'est'' (; ) is a

Franco Franco may refer to: Name * Franco (name) * Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975 * Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître" Prefix * Franco, a prefix used when ref ...

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses *Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports *Swiss Internation ...

historical drama film A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romances, adventure films, and swas ...

directed by

Robert Enrico Robert Georgio Enrico (13 April 1931 – 23 February 2001) was a French film director and scriptwriter best known for making the Oscar-winning short ''An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge'' (1961). He was born in Liévin, Pas-de-Calais, in the north ...

, on a script co-written with Frédéric H. Fajardie, released in 1993.

Plot

At the end of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, a regiment of the

First Russian National Army russian: 1ая. Русская национальная армия , image = First Russian National Army - 2.svg , image_size = , alt = , caption = Patc ...

, loyal to Nazi Germany fled to neutral

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy ...

to escape the

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...

. Seeking asylum and salvation in this neutral state, these soldiers, along with some civilian associates, are warmly welcomed by the Liechtenstein government. Indeed, although returned by force in the country, Prince

Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein Franz Joseph II (Franz Josef Maria Aloys Alfred Karl Johannes Heinrich Michael Georg Ignaz Benediktus Gerhardus Majella; 16 August 1906 – 13 November 1989) was the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein from 25 July 1938 until his death. Franz Jose ...

is understanding and accepts the refugees with the respect due to their rank of combatants. Russian General

Boris Smyslovsky Boris Alexeyevich Smyslovsky, pseudonyms (Hauptmann) von Regenau and (later) Arthur Holmston (3 December 1897 – 5 September 1988), was a Russian-Finnish general, émigré and anti-communist. He commanded the pro-Axis collaborationist Fi ...

tries to monetize the surrender of his troops to

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

rather than to the Red Army. He is working to take them to

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

, a country where they will not be hunted down, but that is without counting on the hatred of the Soviets for these "traitors". The film traces the efforts of the Liechtenstein authorities not to hand over these 400 refugees, and shows the lies and manipulations of the Soviets to convince them to return voluntarily. After promising them a new life as part of the reconstruction of the USSR, the Soviets managed to persuade about 200 of these men to return. On the return journey, the train stops in

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...

and all the "returnees" are murdered with machine guns.

Cast

Malcolm McDowell Malcolm McDowell (born Malcolm John Taylor; 13 June 1943) is a British actor, producer, and television presenter. He is best known for portraying Alex DeLarge in ''A Clockwork Orange.'' He was born in the Horsforth suburb of Leeds and raised in ...

as General

Pierre Vaneck Pierre Vaneck (born Pierre Auguste Van Hecke; 15 April 1931 – 31 January 2010) was a French actor. During his career, he won a Molière Award in 1988 and received a César Award nomination in 2009. Biography Son of a Belgian army officer, ...

as Dr.

Josef Hoop Franz Josef Hoop (14 December 1895 – 19 October 1959) was a political figure from Liechtenstein who served as Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1928 to 1945. Early life Hoop attended high school in Feldkirch, Vorarlberg, Feldkirch, Austria, ...

Prime Minister of Liechtenstein This is a list of heads of government of Liechtenstein. The current () is Daniel Risch, since 25 March 2021. Head of government Provincial administrator (1861–1921) The () was the title of the head of government from 1861 to 1921. Prim ...

Jean-François Balmer Jean-François Balmer (born April 18, 1946 in Valangin) is a Swiss actor. He has worked extensively in French cinema, television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and s ...

as Father Anton Siegler, Speaker of the

Parliament of Liechtenstein The Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: Landtag des Fürstentums Liechtenstein), commonly referred to as the Landtag of Liechtenstein (german: Liechtensteinischer Landtag), is the unicameral parliament of Liechtenstein. Qua ...

Ludmila Mikaël Ludmila Mikaël (born 27 April 1947) is a French actress. She has appeared in more than eighty films since 1967. Selected filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mikael, Ludmila 1947 births Living people French fi ...

as Captain Barinkova * Caroline Sihol as Countess Irène Smyslovsky *

Wojciech Pszoniak Wojciech Zygmunt Pszoniak (2 May 1942 – 19 October 2020) was a Polish film and theatre actor. Biography and career Pszoniak was born in Lwów, Nazi occupied Poland, now in Ukraine. He gained international visibility following Andrzej Wajda's 19 ...

as Colonel Tcheko * Annick Blancheteau as Madame Hoop *

Catherine Frot Catherine Frot (; born 1 May 1956) is a French actress. A 10-time César Award nominee, she won the awards for Best Actress for '' Marguerite'' (2015) and Best Supporting Actress for ''Family Resemblances'' (1996). Her other films include ''Le D ...

as Martha Hubner * Catherine Bidaut as Natalya *

Serge Renko Serge Renko is a French actor. He appeared in more than thirty films since 1982. Selected filmography References External links * Date of birth missing (living people) Living people French male film actors 20th-century French male ...

as Petrov Gregori * Jean de Coninck as Mr. Brandt *

Geneviève Mnich Geneviève Mnich (born 19 February 1942), is a French actress. She has appeared in 80 films since 1972. She was born in Cuffies, Aisne, France. Selected filmography * ''Joséphine, ange gardien'' (2006) (1 Episode : "La Couleur de l'amour") * ...

as Mrs. Brandt *

Clémentine Célarié Clémentine Célarié (born 12 October 1957) is a French actress, writer, director and singer.

as Anna *

Elena Safonova Yelena Vsevolodovna Safonova (russian: Еле́на Все́володовна Сафо́нова; born 14 June 1956 in Leningrad) is a former Soviet and a Russian actress. She is an Honored Artist of Russia (2011). She was made famous by the 198 ...

Princess of Liechtenstein Princess consort of Liechtenstein House of Liechtenstein Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Princess Of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein princesses Princely consorts of Liechtenstein, History of Liechtenstein Lists of princesses, Liechtenstein ...

* Patrice Alexsandre as

, * Gilles Treton as Peter Hubber

References

External links

* {{Robert Enrico 1993 films 1990s historical drama films 1990s French films French-language Swiss films Films directed by Robert Enrico Eastern Front of World War II films French drama films Swiss drama films Swiss historical drama films French historical drama films Films shot in Poland 1990s French-language films Films set in 1945 Films set in 1946