Stories I want to see made into huge films. Lyudmila Pavlichenko.

The Story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko.

This could be a fantastic biopic. The story of the best female sniper in the world. 

I'd love to see a big budget version of this story on screen from a director like Kathryn Bigelow or Patty Jenkins. Both have proved themselves as great directors of action.

Lyudmila fought for Russia during World War 2 and notched up 309 kills. When the war started she wanted to join the army but because women weren't accepted at the time she was given the option of becoming a nurse. However because of her skills ( She'd been sharpshooting since the age of 14) and the demand for soldiers she was finally accepted. Her and 2000 other women became snipers in the Red army. She fought in Odessa between 1941 and 1942 and became very famous because of how good she was and how feared she was by the German army. After the war she went on to become the first Soviet person to be ever invited to visit the USA by an American president and gave speeches to massive crowds in New York and Chicago.

I know there's been buckets of war movies made but how many have we got to see from a woman's perspective? It would add a whole new dimension to proceedings. Plus we'd see the struggles and adversity she faced in what was up to then very much a man's world. And still is.

I love to see it done correctly though. Films that glorify warfare are always a letdown. The best ones are the ones that show exactly what war does to people.

Ok, now, before I forget, there has already been a Russian film ( Battle For Sevastopol ) made of this story but it's too melodramatic and too afraid to focus fully on Lyudmila. It's a pity it felt the need to add fake drama to a story already full of it. A film like this doesn't need a forced love story.

Hollywood has always been afraid of big budget women led blockbusters but surely the success stories of the Hunger Games series of movies and more recently the huge box office of Wonder Woman would give them more confidence.

Now. Any ideas on who could play the lead role?? Being brutally honest, it probably and sadly wouldn't ever get made with a Russian actress in the lead especially if it's a big UK or US production. So I'm thinking maybe Emily Blunt. Any other suggestions? 

Next - The story of Cú Chulainn.