The whole film rests on the premise that after being separated from her friend who is jailed, a young attractive female revolutionary will fall in love with a mid 40's General of the opposition, and the very man responsible for the separation! What makes him so attractive, you ask? Well, he "loves Russia." So convincing!
It is all an attempt to make an unlikable character seem likeable. We are shown him first as he is after the fact - suffering badly, poor, alone, and seeking work as a Hollywood extra. We are told he's a General who doesn't want to waste the lives of his troops. What a lovely guy! I guess we just ignore that he was part of the wealthy elite damaging the lives of many and treating revolutionaries badly. That might ruin the sentiment. It's unfortunate the script goes this way, for the plot is based on an interesting story, and there is some wonderful photography.
It is all an attempt to make an unlikable character seem likeable. We are shown him first as he is after the fact - suffering badly, poor, alone, and seeking work as a Hollywood extra. We are told he's a General who doesn't want to waste the lives of his troops. What a lovely guy! I guess we just ignore that he was part of the wealthy elite damaging the lives of many and treating revolutionaries badly. That might ruin the sentiment. It's unfortunate the script goes this way, for the plot is based on an interesting story, and there is some wonderful photography.