The Chronicles of Melanie

I agree w/some of the lower star reviews that more background history would have helped such as the tacit pact between Germany & Communist Soviet Union to not interfere in either nations expansion of their empires. Seems like Russia still has designs in that direction. Also, that the broad scope and depth of brutality would have added even more to this tale. In 1941 & 1949 the Soviets deported over 15,000 Latvians to either be shot (Malanija Vanaga's husband) or to work camps & prisons mostly in eastern Russia. Deportations & killings reaching hundreds of thousands were ongoing throughout the decades including Latvians living in Russia. I thought the black & white filming gave a period stark cold realism to these events.