Chapaev

The film Chapaev is one of war that depicts one of the battles between the Red's and the White's during the Russian civil war. To me it seemed quite comedic at times because of the random acts of madness from commander Chapaev. Things such as threatening people because the will not agree to his ridiculous requests. These semi-crazy acts continue until Commissar Furmanov intervenes. Somehow he gets Chapaev to realize that the things he is doing need to change. Viewers witness a transformation in General Chapaev through the film. He is changed from a somewhat grumpy evil man, into a kind hearted hero.

To me there are three characters in the film that deserve to be called hero's. The three characters are General Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev, Commissar Furmanov, and Petka. 

I feel that Chapaev is a hero because he transformed from a grumpy mean man into someone who does what he does to help others. In the final fight scene (for example) he tells the others to flee to the next town while he stayed to hold off the white army. Of course this was not entirely heroic... the general did this because of his ego, saying "Chapaev never retreats."

When General Chapaev said this Petka carried him out of the building that was literally falling to the ground. Petka also stayed behind with the general after he was told to leave. He knew that the general had a much better chance surviving if he helped fend off the enemy. It is for these reasons that I feel Petka deserves to be called a hero.

Last but not least, I believe that Commissar Furmanov deserves to be called a hero because of the changes he influenced throughout the film. He was responsible for returning the stolen goods to the peasants. He somehow managed to get the general to realize he needed to change his ways. These and many other acts of kindness came from Commissar Furmanov or someone that he influenced.