Union of Salvation (film)
Union of Salvation (Russian: Союз спасения, romanized: Soyuz spaseniya) is a 2019 Russian war epic period adventure film directed by Andrei Kravchuk, and among the screenwriters Nikita Vysotskiy and Oleg Malovichko, and the list of producers of this historical film even includes Konstantin Ernst. The film was created in collaboration with the Cinema Direction Studios with Mosfilm Studios and Lenfilm with the support of the Russian Cinema Foundation.
| Union of Salvation | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Andrei Kravchuk |
| Produced by |
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| Written by |
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| Story by | Oksana Kiyanskaya (ru) |
| Based on | The Decembrist revolt |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Dmitriy Emelyanov (ru) |
| Cinematography | Igor Grinyakin (ru) |
Production company |
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| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox CIS |
Release date |
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Running time | 136 minutes |
| Country | Russia |
| Language | Russian |
| Budget | ₽980 million $16.1 million |
| Box office | ₽729.1 million[1] $11 million[2] |
The story about the first war, participants took part in the French invasion of Russia of 1812, which dreams to change the Russian Empire. Tsarist Russian in 1816, several officers of the Russian Imperial Guard founded a society known as the Union of Salvation of Army officers created. The revolt occurred on December 1825, when about 3,000 officers and soldiers refused to swear allegiance to the new tsar, this group of conspirators has become known as the Decembrist revolt lay in the Napoleonic Wars, in the 19th century in Saint Petersburg took place a revolt organized by the nobles confederate. Their objective was to transform Russia into a constitutional state and to abolish the serfdom.
The Life Guard Horse Regiment, the main actors are: Leonid Bichevin, Maksim Matveyev, Pavel Priluchny, Ivan Yankovsky, Anton Shagin, Ivan Kolesnikov, Aleksandr Domogarov, Igor Petrenko, Sergey Peregudov, Vitaliy Kishchenko, Aleksei Guskov, Aleksandr Ustyugov, Sergey Koltakov, Vladislav Vetrov and Artyom Tkachenko in supporting roles, the army of the Russian Empire.[3]
According to the website of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, the picture's budget in 2016 was estimated at 700 million rubles. Production of the film got underway in 2017 when Cinema Direction Studios began gathering staff to produce the film. Principal photography began in January 2018, in the cities of Saint Petersburg and Belgorod Oblast.
Union of Salvation was released in the Russian Federation by 20th Century Fox CIS on December 26, 2019, in 2D, Atmos.[4][5]
Inspirations
This is a true story. For young people, even in the social strata, who are drawn to the West, they see in their country the economic backwardness and reluctance of the Tsar to reform, and they realize that the only way to change something is to take power. This is the eternal story of the relationship between the Russian authorities and the Russian people, between the Russian authorities and the elite. That's what we live all the time. People are changing to one side or the other, but the conflict of those trying to stabilize the situation in the country, even if through archaic retention, with modernists willing to change Russia through social upheaval, is eternal. And at all times, these parties are unable to agree, even among them.
Plot
1808 year. Private guesthouse in Paris. The emperor of France, Napoleon, visiting the boarding house, ordered to show him the most talented student. It turned out to be the son of a Russian diplomat in Paris, a subject of the Russian Empire, Sergey Muravyov-Apostol.
The Russian army defeated Napoleonic France and in 1814 captured Paris. During the highest viewing of the Life Guards of the Semyonovsky Regiment by Emperor Alexander I, the guard officers decided to drink champagne with him in honor of the victory, but the sovereign, not wishing, rode by.
1820 year. Russia has become the strongest power in the world. However, soldiers, veterans of the battles with Napoleon are outraged by frequent corporal punishment and excessive drill. The riot of the Life Guards of the Semyonovsky Regiment was pacified by the regiment officers Muravyov-Apostol and Bestuzhev-Ryumin, but despite this, the riot still forced the tsar to send his beloved commanders to the army units in Little Russia, and ordinary soldiers to be driven through the ranks and sent to Siberia. Podpolkovnik Muravyov-Apostol, along with Polkovnik Pestel, leaves Saint Petersburg for the 29th Chernigov Infantry Regiment in the Kiev Governorate. Officers prepare for the whole year the tsar’s murder during his visit to the show, and the subsequent campaign to St. Petersburg. To cover up the traces before the checks, Pestel at gunpoint forces the stubborn captain Mayborod to write a receipt saying that he borrowed the missing amount from the regimental treasury. Mayboroda sends a letter to Alexander I, where he talks about the conspiracy. The emperor, himself striving for reform, decides to leave everything unattended: the review is canceled, the conspirators get off with an unspoken warning.
1825 year. December 13. The young winners, the guards officers, are sure that equality and freedom will come here and now. For this, they are ready to sacrifice everything: their own well-being, position in society, the love of beauties and even life: their own and subordinate soldiers. Discussing the path of reform, the nobles ask themselves the main question, what to prefer: the Russian truth by Pavel Pestel, written by him in a Republican spirit, or Nikita Muravyov's constitutional project, where Russia will remain an Empire.
Chernihiv regiment. To Pestel comes General Yushnevsky. From him, Pestel learns that Captain Mayboroda, one of the officers, wrote a denunciation to Petersburg. Pavel was summoned to Tulchin for arrest. Pestel decides to give up. Muravyov reports this to Mikhail Bestuzhev. The soldiers are rebelling...
The morning of December 14. The Moscow infantry regiment, led by Prince Yevgeny Obolensky, Nikolai Panov, Mikhail Bestuzhev and Pyotr Kakhovsky, goes to Senate Square and prepares to attack the Senate (not knowing that the Senate has sworn allegiance to Nikolai). Governor-general Miloradovich is trying to persuade the soldiers to go to the barracks. He actually succeeds, and therefore one of the leaders of the uprising - Kakhovsky, decides to shoot Miloradovich in the back, then Prince Obolensky hits him with a bayonet. Realizing that the rebels would not give up, Nicholas I orders Aleksei Orlov's Horse guards to attack and disperse them. The attack is not successful.
16.10. December 14. Nicholas orders the artillery to shoot buckshot. Many soldiers of the rebel regiments are killed, the remaining spontaneously flee to the ice of the Neva River. The rebel officers are unable to stop them. On the Neva River, officers order the surviving rebel soldiers to line up on the ice in order to capture the Peter and Paul Fortress and Arsenal. In response, Nicholas orders the artillery to be moved and the ice to be broken with his fire. Soldiers and officers are killed by shrapnel or falling through the ice, broken by the cores.
January 1826. Chernihiv go in formation along the Rzhevsky road. Artillery shoots unexpectedly. There, regiment officers notice guns and government troops. Muravyov draws the line, saying that if the troops cross it, a war will begin. Sergei Ivanovich takes the banner and goes on negotiations. A few minutes later, Major Baranov, once demoted to a soldier, orders the soldiers to build. The officers are trying to dissuade the major, but Baranov convinces them with the words "Do you want him to just be killed?" Soldiers cross the line, government troops open fire. Muravyov-Apostle is seriously wounded, the Akhtyr hussars defeat the rebels ...
The film shows in detail both the Decembrist uprising on Senate Square in Saint Petersburg and the uprising of the 29th Chernigov Infantry Regiment of the Imperial Russian Army, stationed in the Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire. (then a city of Chernigov in the Soviet Union, now in Ukraine)
In 1826, the execution of the five leaders of the uprising takes place. Sergei Muravyov-Apostol on the death row imagines a meeting with Alexander I ... This time the Russian Tsar agrees to drink champagne with his guards.
Cast
| Actors | Imperial Russian Army |
|---|---|
| Leonid Bichevin | Sergey Muravyov-Apostol, a podpolkovnik of the Chernigov Regiment revolt |
| Maksim Matveyev | Prince Sergei Trubetskoy, a polkovnik of the guard, duty officer of the General Staff[6] |
| Pavel Priluchny | Pavel Pestel, a polkovnik, commander of the Vyatka Regiment |
| Ivan Yankovsky | Mikhail Bestuzhev-Ryumin, a podporuchik of the Poltava Infantry Regiment |
| Anton Shagin | Kondraty Ryleyev, poet, journalist |
| Ivan Kolesnikov | Emperor of All Russian Nicholas I |
| Aleksandr Domogarov | Count Miloradovich, military governor-general of Saint Petersburg |
| Igor Petrenko | Baranov, a demoted major, grenadier of the Chernigov Regiment revolt |
| Sergey Peregudov | Artarmon Muravyov, a polkovnik, commander of the Akhtyr Hussars |
| Vitaly Kishchenko | Emperor of All Russian Alexander I |
| Aleksei Guskov | Prince Aleksei Scherbatov, the general of the lnfantry of Kiev |
| Sergey Koltakov | Count Nikolay Mordvinov, a senator |
| Aleksandr Ustyugov | Prince Aleksei Orlov, an general-adjutant, commander of Horse guards |
| Vladislav Vetrov | Gustav Gebel, a podpolkovnik, commander of the Chernigov Regiment revolt |
| Aleksandr Lazarev Jr. | Alexander von Benckendorff, a general of the cavalry |
| Artyom Tkachenko | Amphelt, a polkovnik |
| Efim Petrunin | Ivan Sukhinov, a poruchik of the Chernigov Regiment revolt |
| Pavel Barshak | Baron Veniamin Solovyev, a stabs-kapitan of the Chernigov Regiment revolt |
| Kirill Kuznetsov | Mikhail Dipillo, a poruchik of the Chernigov Regiment revolt |
| Anton Feoktistov | Anastasi Kuzmin, a poruchik, commander of the 5th Musketeer Company of the Chernigov Regiment revolt |
| Andrey Martynov | Hippolyte Muravyov-Apostol, a praporshchik of the quartermaster |
| Sergey Agafonov | Pyotr Kakhovsky, a retired poruchik |
| Dmitriy Lysenkov | Prince Yevgeny Obolensky, a poruchik of the Life Guards of the Finland Regiment |
| Aleksandr Stroev | Baron Peter Frederiks, a major general, the Active Privy Councillor |
| Mikhail Eliseev | Aleksei Yushnevsky, a quartermaster general of the 2nd army, the Active State Councillor |
| Aleksandr Ratnikov | Chistov, a major of the Chernigov Regiment revolt |
| Pavel Vorozhtsov | Arkady Mayboroda, a captain of the Vyatka Regiment |
| Sergey Vlasov | Ivan Dibich, an general-adjutant. Chief of General Staff Building |
| Yury Baturin | Alexander Chernyshev, an general-adjutant |
| Dmitry Palamarchuk | Vasily Mikulin, a polkovnik |
| Kirill Zaytsev | Mikhail Bestuzhev, a stabs-kapitan |
| Yuriy Borisov | Anton Arbuzov, a leytenant of the Guards crew |
| Aleksandr Metyolkin | Nikolai Panov, a poruchik of the Life Guard Grenadier Regiment |
| Anton Momot | Prince Dmitry Schepin-Rostovsky, a stabs-kapitan of the Moscow Guard Regiment |
| Maksim Blinov | Ilya Bakunin, a praporshchik |
| Aleksey Oding | Baron Fedor Geismaer, General of the cavalry |
| Petar Zekavica | Fedor Schwartz, a polkovnik, commander of the Semyonovsky Regiment |
| Sergey Umanov | Yevsei, Sergey Muravyov-Apostol's batman |
| Vladislav Reznik | Pavel Golenichtchev-Koutouzov, a general |
| Actresses | Russian women in the nobility |
| Sofya Zaika | Anna Belskaya |
| Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė | Princess Belskaya, Anna's mother |
| Elena Lotova | Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas I |
| Marina Konyashkina | Princess Ekaterina Trubetskaya |
| Larisa Malevannaya | Yekaterina Nelidova |
Production
Development
The film's historical consultant was Oksana Ivanovna Kiyanskaya.[7] The film Union of Salvation is a project of the Direktsiya kino (the main partner of which is Channel One of Russian television) and the company 20th Century Fox CIS. The project was initially announced in 2013. The script was written by Nikita Vysotskiy, he originally appeared as a director. And now in the director's chair Andrei Kravchuk, who worked with the Direktsiya kino on the films Admiral, a 2008 and Viking (film), a 2016 historical was film. The first teaser pictures have appeared in theaters.[8]
The film's cameraman, Igor Grinyakin, who also previously worked on the projects of the Cinema Directorate Studio. Producers of the film - Konstantin Ernst and Anatoly Maksimov.[9]
Filming
Principal photography began in summer 2018 and took place the selo of Dmitriyevka, Shebekinsky District, Belgorod Oblast, playing the role of the village of Vasilkova, where the rebel regiment was seized. The place was chosen because of the similarity of natural landscapes. The objects in the hollow during the filming were grouped so that one was the background for the others. The movie village was created specifically for filming. It consists of 22 houses, a temple, Russian well, beehives, awnings and bridges. Now in the village a museum - a film company "Cinema Directorate Studio" donated the buildings of the local administration.[10][11][12]
The four houses in the cinema are "game houses", they are rented not only outside but also inside. They have almost everything necessary for life, even a real Russian stove. Now there is one less building in the movie village. The drinking establishment (shinok), as required by the scenario, burned down in the Belgorod Oblast.[13][14]
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The events that took place in the city of Saint Petersburg had to be partially filmed in the pavilions. For the mass scene of the uprising on December 14, 1825, the largest pavilion in the country with an area of more than 40 thousand m2 was equipped. Specifically for this purpose, a chromakey was sewn, which actually covered the entire building from the inside. Full-scale shooting took place on Palace Square, in the Peter and Paul Fortress, Tsarskoye Selo, Yusupov Palace and Saint Michael's Castle. The Grand Gatchina Palace, the town of Gatchina, Leningrad Oblast.[15][16][17][18][19]
For filming were made exact copies of a 12-pounder guns of the sample in 1806 year, which were used in the war with Napoleon, and then in the Senate square during the uprising.
The banners of the rebel regiments in the film exactly repeat the standards of the rebels. It took at least a month to create one canvas manually.
During the filming of the climax, the Senate square in Saint Petersburg was freezing - the air temperature dropped to -24 °C, which felt like -30 °C due to high humidity, so rosy cheeks and reddened noses are not make-up. Actors and extras were saved by thermal underwear and warmed up in vehicles in between takes.
Part of the shooting took place in a historical place - a house belonging to the Muravyev-Apostol family in Moscow.
The military and reenactors advised the crew so that the costumes, and movements and the cast of the actors were appropriate for the era. In addition to the main characters, they worked with actors of mass scenes. During the filming, about 1800 people acted in the role of soldiers, and each of them underwent special training.
Most of the costumes created for the film are military.
Broadcloth for them was woven at a factory near Moscow, which preserved the traditions of production at that time.
Since the film takes place at the beginning of the 19th century, when sideburns and mustaches were in fashion, make-up artists had to make hundreds of different designs so that each actor got a set of the right color.
Gold epaulettes for uniforms were made by hand.
The craftsmen made 500 overcoats for ordinary infantrymen. With the help of parts and accessories, the costumes were modified for the filming of different regiments.
For the main characters of the film, 5-6 costumes were sewn, because in different years they served in different ranks.
Hats were made for the ladies. Handbags, umbrellas, gloves and shoes were searched at flea markets or made to order. References were sought in the literature and painting of that time.
Post-production
The film Union of Salvation was created using the latest technology. As its creators say, it is "almost fantasy" in terms of the number of computer graphics. However, there was no need to build new worlds - the graphics were needed to restore the old ones. As a result, the viewer will be able to see Petersburg exactly as the Decembrists saw it.
The scale of events is transmitted using lighting, computer graphics and photogrammetry. For example, a soldier was photographed with a device consisting of many cameras. Thus, it was possible to create 3D models of real actors, which then filled the frame. And if during the shooting of mass scenes on the site there were 300-500 artists, then on the screen there will be several times more.
For a year and a half, the entire production process was recorded on a 360-degree camera Samsung 360 Round. This is the first such experience in Russian cinema. With the help of computer graphics, Saint Petersburg was recreated in the first third of the 19th century: Saint Isaac's Cathedral stands in the woods, because then it was only being built, and the Winter Palace was pale terracotta in color.
Soundtrack
| Union of Salvation: The Movie Soundtrack | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Dmitriy Emelyanov | |
| Released | March 6, 2020[20] |
| Recorded | 2020 |
| Genre | soundtrack |
| Length | 1:10:00 |
| Label | Navigator Records (in Russian) Hollywood Records (in English) |
| Producer | Aleksey Vladimirovich Kozin |
On December 18, 2019, the main movie premiere of the year, the film Union of Salvation, was held in Moscow. The musical design of the picture was done by Navigator Records (ru).
The famous film composer Dmitriy Emelyanov (ru) worked on the soundtrack for the Union of Salvation. Dmitry’s original author’s compositions sound in the film, including the title theme of the Union of Salvation.
The soundtrack of the film was written by composer Dmitriy Emelyanov, the theme of the song was written by singer Vasiliy Vakulenko ("Basta") and was called "Sensara". The film was produced by Hollywood Records, with Dmitriy Emelyanov processing at the request of producer, Konstantin Ernst, other famous tunes in Russia such as Mumiy Troll's "Vladivostok 2000", Nautilus Pompilius's "Water Walks", Med Dog's "Fly Away", All are played in a film accompanied by symphony. Aleksey Kozin, the film's music producer, said the collaboration with Emelyanov is always an interesting and enjoyable process since Emelyanov is a professional and talented person in his field.
Dmitriy Emelyanov, composer and arranger of the film: «It was a great pleasure for me as a musician to become part of such a large-scale project and collaborate with famous film producers - Konstantin Lvovich Ernst and Anatoly Vadimovich Maksimov».
Aleksey Kozin, musical producer of the film: «Cooperation with Dmitriy Emelyanov is always a very interesting and enjoyable process. Dmitriy is a true professional and talented person with his own style».[21]
Release
Union of Salvation is the premiere of the film took place on December 18, 2019 at the Moscow cinema "October". The film is scheduled to be released in the Russian Federation by 20th Century Fox CIS on December 26, 2019.
Reception
The film was released on December 26, 2019. It was the most expensive Russian film of the year, with a budget of 980 million RUB (roughly $16.1 million at exchange rates at the time).
Critical response
Film critic Egor Moskvitin in an interview with Kommersant FM radio station noted:[22]
On the one hand, you can really perceive this movie as complementary to young people, idealists who are ready to give their lives for the fatherland. On the other hand, this film can be interpreted as the story that any upheaval leads to even greater tragedies. The rush of the Decembrists was rather magnanimous rather than meaningful.
In turn, the observer of the network publication "Kanobu.Ru" Angelina Gura indicated:[23]
There are many characters and they are disclosed exactly as much as a two-hour film allows about one of the most famous events of the past. Therefore, the Union of Salvation can be attributed to the category of historical films only, without any life inside.
See also
- The Decembrists (1927), a Soviet silent historical drama film
- The Captivating Star of Happiness (1975), a Soviet film
References
- Box Office, Russian Cinema Fund
- "Union of Salvation (2019)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- "Union of Salvation". February 25, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
- Alperina, Susanna (May 17, 2018). "Вышел первый тизер фильма о декабристах "Союз Спасения"" [The first teaser of the film about the Decembrists Union of Salvation] (in Russian). Rossiyskaya Gazeta // rg.ru. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- Filippova, Anna (December 26, 2019). ""Союз Спасения": Дней Александровых трагический конец" [Union of Salvation: the days of Alexander the tragic end]. Kino-teatr.ru (in Russian). Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- Матвеев в образе декабриста на съёмках фильма. Mail.Ru (in Russian). 2018-05-21. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
- Larisa Malyukova (December 26, 2019). "Наглядное пособие о вреде революций (Visual Aid on the Dangers of Revolution)". Novaya Gazeta. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
- "Кинорынок: презентация новых фильмов" [Film market: presentation of new films]. Kinoafisha.info (in Russian). April 17, 2018.
- "В белгородском Шебекинском благочинии освятили съёмочную площадку исторического фильма Первого канала" [In Belgorod Shebekinsky deaneries consecrated the set of the historical film of Channel One]. BezFormata.Ru (in Russian). Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- "Под Белгородом начались съёмки фильма Константина Эрнста о декабристах" [Near Belgorod Oblast, filming began with the film by Konstantin Ernst about the Decembrists]. Bel.Ru (in Russian). May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- Tarasov, Aleksandr (June 19, 2018). "Знаменитый режиссёр будет снимать фильм о декабристах в Шебекинском районе" [The famous director will make a film about the Decembrists in the Shebekinsky District]. Red Banner (in Russian). Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- Zolotaryova, Anna (August 12, 2018). ""Мы нашли такие типажи!" Как шебекинцев в актёры набирали. — В Шебекинском районе в конце августа начнутся съёмки историко-приключенческой драмы о декабристах "Союз спасения"" [«We found such traits!» How Shebekins recruited actors. - In the Shebekinsky District at the end of August, will begin shooting the historical and adventure drama about the Decembrists Union of Salvation]. BelPressa.Ru (in Russian). Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- Maslov, Andrey (May 21, 2018). "В Белгородской области снимают фильм о декабристах" [A film about the Decembrists is being shot in the Belgorod Oblast.]. Fonar.tv (in Russian). Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- "На Белгородчине достраивают деревню для съёмок "Союза спасения"" [In the Belgorod Oblast, a village is being completed for the filming of Union of Salvation]. Belgorod.ru (in Russian).
- Malikova, Sweta (May 18, 2018). "Про первое декабристское общество. — Уникальные кадры: как снимают фильм про декабристов "Союз спасения"" [About the first Decembrist society. - Unique shots: how to make a film about the Decembrists Union of Salvation]. TricolorTvMag.Ru (in Russian). Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- "Матвеев в образе декабриста на съемках фильма "Союз спасения"" [Maksim Matveyev in the image of the Decembrist on the set of the film Union of Salvation]. Kino.Mail.ru (in Russian). May 21, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- "Максим Матвеев и Антон Шагин готовят восстание" [Maksim Matveyev and Anton Shagin are preparing an uprising]. Kino-teatr.ru (in Russian). May 18, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- "Гатчинский парк стал съёмочной площадкой для исторической киноленты о декабристах "Союз спасения"" [Gatchina Park has become a film set for the historical film about the Decembrists Union of Salvation]. 47Channel (in Russian). October 24, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- Chachelov, Artur (December 27, 2019). "Где и как снимали "Союз спасения"" [Where and how was the Union of Salvation filmed]. Kinometro.ru (in Russian). Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- "Union of Salvation (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Amazon. March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020. (in English)
- "Navigator Records представляет: саундтрек к фильму "Союз спасения"". MUSECUBE.ORG. December 20, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2020. (in Russian)
- Sizov, Ilya (December 25, 2019). ""Союз спасения" поставил вопрос о протестах" [Union of Salvation raises protests] (in Russian). Kommersant FM.Ru.
- Gura, Angelina (December 27, 2019). ""Союз спасения" поставил вопрос о протестах" [The historical blockbuster Union of Salvation from the creators of Viking (2016 film) is better than we thought] (in Russian). Kanobu.Ru.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Decembrists. |
- Official website (in Russian)
- Union of Salvation on IMDb