Enemy at the Gates (2001)

Joseph Fiennes: Commisar Danilov

Photos 

Quotes 

• Commisar Danilov : I've been such a fool, Vassili. Man will always be a man. There is no new man. We tried so hard to create a society that was equal, where there'd be nothing to envy your neighbour. But there's always something to envy. A smile, a friendship, something you don't have and want to appropriate. In this world, even a Soviet one, there will always be rich and poor. Rich in gifts, poor in gifts. Rich in love, poor in love.

• [Emerging from his conference with the disgraced Red Army General, Khruschev calmly waits for the sound of a gunshot, then addresses the roomful of commissars] 

  Nikita Khrushchev : My name is Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev. I've come to take things in hand here. This city is not Kursk, nor is it Kiev, nor Minsk. This city... is Stalingrad. *Stalingrad*! This city bears the name of the Boss. It's more than a city, it's a symbol. If the Germans capture this city, the entire country will collapse. Now, I want our boys to raise their heads. I want them to act like they have *balls*! I want them to stop *shitting their pants*! That's your job. As political officers, I'm counting on you.

  [he looks at one man] 

  Nikita Khrushchev : You. What's your suggestion?

  Sweating Officer : [visibly nervous]  Sh-shoot all the other generals who have retreated, and their chiefs of staff, too.

  [Khrushchev moves down the line to another man] 

  Stammering Officer : M-m-m-make some examples. D-d-d-d-d-d-deport the families of the d-d-d-deserters...

  Nikita Khrushchev : [turning away]  Yes, yes, that's all been done.

  Danilov : [from the back of the room]  Give them hope!

  [Khrushchev turns around and strides down the line to Danilov] 

  Danilov : Here, the men's only choice is between German bullets and ours. But there's another way. The way of courage. The way of love of the Motherland. We must publish the army newspaper again. We must tell magnificent stories, stories that extol sacrifice, bravery. We must make them believe in the victory. We must give them hope, pride, a desire to fight. Yes, we need to make examples. But examples to *follow*. What we need... are heroes.

  [Khrushchev glances around the room, then leans in closer to Danilov] 

  Nikita Khrushchev : [wryly]  Do you know any heroes around here?

  Danilov : Yes, comrade. I know one.

• Commisar Danilov : Do you know how to shoot?

  Vassili Zaitsev : A little.

• Commisar Danilov : I want to help you, Vassili. Let me do one last thing, something useful for a change.

  [takes off his helmet] 

  Commisar Danilov : Let me show you where the Major is.

• Vassili Zaitsev : He shot him on the run. It was an impossible shot.

  Commisar Danilov : Vassili...

  Vassili Zaitsev : You've promised people a victory I can't deliver. I don't stand a chance against this man.

• Vassili Zaitsev : Ludmilla and Anton were killed today. And it was my fault.

  Commisar Danilov : No, I'm sure that's not true.

  Vassili Zaitsev : It was a German sniper. I walked them right into his trap.

  Commisar Danilov : What else can you tell me?

  Vassili Zaitsev : He didn't relocate. A sniper who doesn't relocate isn't normal. He was very good. It wasn't just his shooting, it was his instinct. He was a step ahead of me all the time.

  Commisar Danilov : That's because he knows everything about you. His name is Konig. Major Konig. They've sent them here to find you.

• Commisar Danilov : Where have you been? We've been looking all over for you.

  Vassili Zaitsev : Oh, did you hear? I was dead. At least, Noble Sniper Zeitsev, Vassili was dead.

• Vassili Zaitsev : Shouldn't we try and make the point that I'm not the only one fighting?

  Commisar Danilov : That's an excellent idea. We can take it even further though. Your battle for the production of coal is as worthy as mine. There's no 'k' in coal. Just one 'l'. Tell me if I'm going too fast.

  Vassili Zaitsev : No, you're not going too fast. Is there any other improvements?

  Mother Filipov : Why don't you get some rest? These letters can wait until tomorrow.

  Vassili Zaitsev : We should carry on. We're not tired. Thank you, Mrs. Filipov. These people took the trouble to write to us. Tomorrow we might not be around to write back.

• Vassili Zaitsev : [Vassili sees his own picture while reading the Red Army newspaper as it is coming off the press]  That's me.

  [he reads the caption] 

  Vassili Zaitsev : "Vassili Zaitsev." That's me!

  Danilov : No, you're not dreaming! It's your name! We made the front page! They haven't changed a word! Do you have any idea what this means? It's not the back page. It's not the second page. It's the front page.

  Danilov , Vassili Zaitsev : [together]  The front page!

  Danilov : They're going to reprint our article everywhere, in the Caucasus, in the Crimea... even in the Urals!

  [he laughs] 

  Danilov : Tomorrow morning, Stalin himself will be sitting over breakfast, reading my words, memorizing your name. We're famous, Vassili. Khrushchev loved the article. He's promoted me to the General Staff... and you... to sniper division.

  Vassili Zaitsev : Well, that's good.

  Danilov : It's *very* good.

  Vassili Zaitsev : It's very good. It's great.

  Danilov : It's *very* great!

  Vassili Zaitsev : It's great!

  Danilov : It's great!

  Vassili Zaitsev : It's great!

  Danilov : For *both* of us, because we did it together.

  [Vassili laughs] 

  Danilov : Together. Although, admittedly, I did all the hard work.

  Vassili Zaitsev : Oh, yeah?

  [he pushes Danilov playfully, then chases him around some desks] 

  Danilov : You know, you're very lucky I can't fight back.

  Vassili Zaitsev : Why's that?

  Danilov : Because Khrushchev told me to make sure that nothing happens to you! You're too important!

  Vassili Zaitsev : I'm too valuable!

  [he keeps hitting Danilov playfully] 

  Danilov : Yes! Careful of my - careful of my glasses, please. They're new.

  Vassili Zaitsev : [Vassili gives Danilov a salute and a smile]  Sorry, sir.

  Danilov : [Danilov slaps Vassili playfully]  I'm sorr -

  [they start laughing and wrestling around] 

  Danilov : I'm famous!

  Vassili Zaitsev : *I'm* famous!

  Danilov : *We're* famous!

  Vassili Zaitsev : *I'm* famous!

  Danilov : We're famous!

  Vassili Zaitsev : We're famous!