During the war in Afghanistan a Soviet tank crew commanded by a tyrannical officer find themselves lost and in a struggle against a band of Mujahadeen guerrillas in the mountains.
Acting
Dzundza's Daskal: pure despotic unraveling, one of cinema's great monsters.
Practical Effects
Real tanks, real Israeli desert doubling for Afghanistan—sweat and diesel you can smell.
Writing
William Mastrosimone's stage roots show: tight, mean, philosophical.
Director
Kevin Reynolds
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot in Israel with actual Soviet-made T-55 tanks captured from Arab armies—ironically authentic.
Released in 1988 as Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan began; Hollywood's rare pre-9/11 Afghan war film, now read completely differently post-2001.
US
