Film Review: As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me (So weit die Füße tragen, 2001)

History in past few centuries suggests that invading Russia is, more often than not, a bad idea. Protagonist of As Far as My Feet Will Carry Me, 2001 German adventure film directed by Hardy Martins, is one of many individuals that suffered the consequences of such decision. The plot begins in 1944, during Second World War, and the protagonist is Lieutenant Clemens Forrell (played by Bernard Betterman), a Wehrmacht officer who is about to be sent to the Eastern Front. Before departure, Forrell promises his family that he would do anything in his power to return, but this proves very unlikely when, a year later, Germany loses the war and Forrell gets captured by Red Army. Soviets put him to mock trial over alleged war crimes and sentence him to twenty five years of prison, which he would serve in gulag situated near Cape Dezhnev at Chukotka Peninsula, the easternmost tip of Siberia. Forrell, who, like many other German prisoners, suffer cold, hunger and abuse by guards and becomes convinced that he can survive only if he escapes. After one failed attempt an opportunity for another is provided by Dr. Stauffer (played by Michael Mendl), a physician who has meticulously planned and prepared for the long journey, but who is terminally ill with cancer and knows that he won’t return home. Instead he gives up his plan to Forrell who promises that he would visit his wife back in Germany. Forrell escapes and begins long and difficult trek in southwestern direction, experiencing all kinds of adventures that involve encounters with Chukchi natives and Russian gold prospectors. Despite all odds and, despite being pursued by NKVD Lieutenant Kamenev (played by Anatoliy Kotenyov), camp commander who had taken Forrell’s escape very personally, he manages to reach Soviet Central Asia three years later. There, while attempting to cross border with Iran, he receives unexpected help from Igor (played by Aleksandr Efremov), Jewish man who takes pity of him despite his own family being wiped out by Germans during the war.

The film is based on the 1955 novel by Josef Martin Bauer, Bavarian writer who had been Nazi propagandist during the war. The novel, based on the allegedly true story of German officer Cornelius Rost, was adapted for West German television as six part miniseries in 1959. The new version mostly ignores political issues, which are only briefly mentioned during the beginning when German prisoners on route to Siberia discuss their fate and one of them states they all had it coming because of the atrocities German forces had committed during the war. What follows is an old school epic that combines elements of prison and adventure genre into neat and easily digestible package, making the complicated story about WW2 and its political aftermath into simple story about man trying to get back to his family. Handy Martins had decent budget at his disposal and directs the film well, putting the locations of Finland and Uzbekistan to good use. The acting is very good, which includes Bernhard Betterman as protagonist and Anatoliy Koteynov, Belarusian actor best known for playing Yeltsin in late seasons of Crown, as his formidable opponent. Although the ending seems semi-ironic, with protagonist having to spend additional time in Iranian prison under suspicion of being a Soviet spy, As Far as My Feet Carry Me is generally satisfying experience that could be recommended to fans to period adventure. Those who want to watch true stories, however, would look elsewhere. Extensive research, based on Soviet archives opened after the end of Cold War and major factual errors in Bauer’s original text, have concluded that the Bauer’s and Rost’s claims were fiction. This is the same issue that affected The Way Back, 2010 film directed by Peter Weir, which had told similar story about Polish prisoners of Stalin-era gulags.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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