MovieChat Forums > Enemy at the Gates (2001) Discussion > What was Danilov's tragic flaw?

What was Danilov's tragic flaw?

posted 12 years ago by lanis_cupus
13 replies | jump to latest

Any thoughts on this? What was it about this man that led to his demise?

That girl's an island. -Dennis Lehane

[–] savagesteve13 12 years ago

His job was propaganda, and truth often conflicted with objectives. He raised Zaitsev to hero status and later demonized him as a turncoat because it was beneficial to the cause.
He just couldn't handle it.

[–] lanis_cupus 12 years ago

Great answer.

I say never be complete.I say stop being perfect.I say lets evolve,let the chips fall... -TD

[–] chas437 11 years ago

I would say un requited love. As it fits with your answer.

I'm a civilian, I'm not a trout

[–] Rumble_McSkirmish 10 years ago

Well, wasn't beneficial to the cause, more like beneficial to his own personal goals. Painting Zaitsev as a traitor means he'd be snuffed out when found leaving him to play the rebound on Tanya

Panzer vor!

[–] TooPrettyInPink 11 years ago

Jealousy.

I sympathized with his character. It always sucks to be in a love triangle.

[–] Seriona1 11 years ago

I don't think it at jealousy. I believe he hated his job basically telling lies for the Soviet cause and hated how he used his lies to boost his own ego.

[–] chas437 11 years ago

I would say unrequited love. But you raise a good point. Complex and thought provoking character, we rarely get this in film today.

I'm a civilian, I'm not a trout

[–] Seriona1 11 years ago

People keep saying love but the movie doesn't quiet hint at that entirely.

[–] Rumble_McSkirmish 10 years ago

Danilov quiet openly and blatantly wanted Tanya, it shows like a red paint blotch on a white background. He pines over her, he wanted her, from the first moment where he tries to subconciously show Vasili as an incompetent right up to his final scene where he comes out to Vasili about his love. It isn't till Tanya is seriously wounded that he realizes he could never have her, at which point he has no will to continue

Panzer vor!

[–] jleslie48 10 years ago

he said it himself. he realized that the communist ideals of equality for all is a farce. some will be rich and some will be poor no matter what. It took for him to realize that the horrible thing he did to Vasilli in telling lies to obtains something that Vasilli had that he wanted.

[–] Techto (1307) 4 years ago

Yes, the only things that sustained Danilov were the cause and his love for Tanya. He lost faith in his cause and believed Tonya to be dead. But he still admired Vasilli and, I think, wanted to atone for having betrayed him earlier.

[–] Ranman1987 10 years ago

He made the one mistake that ruins a lot of great friendships: he put the pu$sy on a pedestal.

[–] tukai 10 years ago

^ he worshipped pussylia