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      Before Winter Comes

      PG 1969 1 hr. 43 min. Drama List
      Reviews 33% Fewer than 50 Ratings Audience Score A Soviet deserter (Topol) acts as interpreter for a British major (David Niven) in a displaced-persons camp in 1945 Austria. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (3) audience reviews
      Charlie R This movie seems to have been "misfiled" judging by numerous review websites. It gets included under Comedy and I think it was far from comedic. It was tragic. Maybe it takes an upbringing that identifies with the challenges of performing service and duty over conscience. I got that almost immediately from the David Niven character. Then Topol appears and he's really dancing on a hotplate the entire time but putting on a brave face because he's really got no influence to save his own life. As a comedy the movie is poor. As a parody and moral tale about the years immediately after WWII for the winners and the losers, I would recommend giving it a look. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/10/23 Full Review Audience Member I really liked this movie when it came out. It's very very hard to find now. The promo poster is kind of stupid because it makes it look like a musical. Maybe they were trying to capitalize on Topol's popularity from Fiddler On The Roof. The main driving theme is serious and dark; repatriation of WWII migrants who have to be sent back to their nations of origin whether they want to be or not. The British officer has a tough job with no precedent to follow. Critics also overlook the barely exposed fact this officer screwed up a past assignment which is why he got this thankless posting. The story to me is more about his internal conflict between doing his duty as an officer this time vs doing the humanitarian thing for downtrodden people whose fate is basically in his hands. David Niven always did a masterful job of playing the stiff upper lip British officer who has a dirty job to do. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member bitter WWII drama post WWII Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (1) Critics Reviews
      Bernard Drew Gannett News Service Before Winter Comes" is not a bad picture, and occasionally, it is a good one, but it seems opportunistic. Jul 10, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A Soviet deserter (Topol) acts as interpreter for a British major (David Niven) in a displaced-persons camp in 1945 Austria.
      Director
      J. Lee Thompson
      Production Co
      Columbia Pictures
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (DVD)
      Jan 3, 2012