Afghanistan, 1981, and the Soviet Union is locked in a futile and bloody battle with the Mujahedeen. Separated from their patrol after a vicious attack on an Afghani village, a T-62 tank engages in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the local mujahed, led by the Afghan Taj. The tyrannical and increasingly unstable tank commander Daskal pushes the moral boundaries of the tank driver Constantine Koverchenko to the limits, with almost dire consequences. Sensing a mutiny, Daskal abandons Koverchenko to die in the desert at the hand of the Afghans, only to find that he's sealed his own fate.

The fire commands and terminology used by the tank crew in combat are the same as used by U.S. Army tank crews. This was to add military flavor to the movie, and give it a very realistic feel.

Daskal:
[the tank is incapacitated. Daskal hands out a grenade to Kaminski and Golikov] You know our standing orders.


Kaminski:
What?


Daskal:
Out of commission, become a pillbox. Out of ammo, become a bunker. Out of time, become heroes.


Kaminski:
You must be out of your fucking mind!

[He tosses his grenade aside]


Daskal:
Now. Together.

[Daskal pulls the grenade pin]

Continuity: Not only does the Russian tank crew use American tank fire commands in a Soviet tank, they only use them correctly about half the time. For instance, they correctly yell "up!" when the round has been loaded, but the proper warning when traversing the turret is to yell "Power!" while they use "Traversing!"

Written by VICTOR TSI
Performed by KINO
Produced by JOANNA STINGRAY
Courtesy of STINGRAY PRODUCTIONS