USSR | 05:00 | 1971

The story of a courageous boy who, during wartime, makes an immense sacrifice for the greater good. His brave act inspires hundreds of other children.

The film is a striking example of overt propaganda celebrating the triumph of Soviet ideology. Beneath the surface of this seemingly innocent children's story lies the myth that self-sacrifice in the service of a great cause is both necessary and noble. In the Soviet Union, such sacrifice was expected even of children.