Nikolay Lebedev's 2023 film, 'In the Shadows of Nuremberg', a Soviet-side political thriller, has been reviewed as struggling with its narrative. The film, set against the backdrop of the Nuremberg trial, attempts to be a Russian counterpart to 'Saving Private Ryan' by incorporating a personal story about a missing soldier.
The plot follows Red Army intelligence officer Igor Volgin, portrayed by Sergey Kempo, who secures a translation post for the Soviet delegation after his brother goes missing. He is approached by Lena (Lyubov Aksyonova), who claims to have encountered his sibling in captivity. Lena is also depicted as providing information to Helmut (Wolfgang Cerny), a Nazi resistance figure.
Despite Lebedev's history with Russian blockbusters, the review suggests he struggles to maintain a confident narrative in this complex web of intrigue. The film is noted for its 'twitchy camerawork' and a 'strain of maudlin patriotism', which reportedly clashes with its message about universal human justice.