atmosphere of classic western. adventures and drops of humor. values and sacrifice. the war and its hero. and, sure, the spice of propaganda. result - a film who reminds the sensitivity of a period and the charm of a land. because it has the gift to be a travel in time who remains out by propaganda's circle. for the art of a director who knows explore the story, for the actors who are masters of a good job and for the landscapes. for the fight scenes and for the wise manner to explore each detail. a film for entire family. because it is a splendid window to an impressive part of the past. an eastern. and little more. for the courage and art to be more than entertainment.

in fact, memorable. for fight scenes and special humor. for images of desert and Manichean script. for its poetry and, sure, for the slices of absurd. it is not original or great. it remains only unique. or, only, a kind of legend who testify the vision, ambition and sensitivity of a period. it is a Soviet movie but after years and years, it remains out of date. fresh, seductive, with few chains with classic western but deep different, story of a military like new Ulyses, it is touching and really not bad. and presence of the three old men as human clock for events, the women and young soldier are memories for entire life. for me, this fact is essential.

Being completely agree with all other comments, I can add a simple explanation what a cult movie it is. Every time when a manned spaceship is launched in Russia, it's team watches Beloye Solntse Pustyni right before takeoff. It's a tradition they never forgive. Even Dennis Tito had to watch it, together with other crew members, yet he probably had no translation or subtitles.

Just a few lines to mention that this film is a favourite not only in Russia and the Russian speaking world. This is one of the few really loved Soviet films in Bulgaria too. (In my country the term "Eastern" usually applies for a Russian war film rather than a Far Eastern one) One of my personal favorite episodes is Vereshchagin being fed up of having nothing else available to eat, but caviar!