Enemy at the Gates is a
2001 movie directed by
Jean-Jacques Annaud, adapted from a book written by
William Craig which loosely described events surrounding
World War II Soviet sniper Vasily Zaitsev and his
German rival, Major König, during the
Battle of Stalingrad,
1942-
1943. Another book called
The War of the Rats formed the basis for the sniper duel element of the screenplay. Annaud made the film also as a sort of tribute to his friend and fellow director
Sergio Leone, who had been trying to make a film about the
Siege of Leningrad at the time of his death.