Even Bondarchuk's War and Peace, which is basically about a bunch of Russian aristocrats, has a pretty noticeable leftwing slant. It's definitely anti-war and might be considered pro-peasant. The character of Napoleon is also an obvious stand-in for Hitler and possibly for the USA generally; the racist and sexist carousing which takes place in occupied Moscow could be considered a warning for what might happen (and what indeed did happen) if the USA ever defeated the USSR. But one invading French soldier gets left behind when Napoleon flees to France, and he then becomes friends with the Russians. One of the main characters (Bezukhov) is supposed to become a Decembrist after the story ends, and maybe he could be considered a proto-communist, even if he is an extremely wealthy aristocrat. The aristocrats themselves are shown fighting pretty childishly over the inheritance of Bezukhov's father virtually the instant he dies.
Even Bondarchuk's War and Peace, which is basically about a bunch of Russian aristocrats, has a pretty noticeable leftwing slant. It's definitely anti-war and might be considered pro-peasant. The character of Napoleon is also an obvious stand-in for Hitler and possibly for the USA generally; the racist and sexist carousing which takes place in occupied Moscow could be considered a warning for what might happen (and what indeed did happen) if the USA ever defeated the USSR. But one invading French soldier gets left behind when Napoleon flees to France, and he then becomes friends with the Russians. One of the main characters (Bezukhov) is supposed to become a Decembrist after the story ends, and maybe he could be considered a proto-communist, even if he is an extremely wealthy aristocrat. The aristocrats themselves are shown fighting pretty childishly over the inheritance of Bezukhov's father virtually the instant he dies.
IMO not fair. Napoleon freed Europe from feudalism and theocracy. It wasn't perfect but much better than what came before and after.
Of course, I meant this is how he's depicted in the movie, since I think Russians generally uh have a less than positive view of good ole boney.