Melodrama, musical. I remember about this picture from deep childhood, because then I started watching it on the box only because of the name, because I was expecting a historical drama about the victory of Ermak Timofeevich over the Siberian Khan Kuchum, and the picture began in general with Bleslau, which was stormed by Red Army units. And I turned off this case then, because I was not interested in this topic at that time. And now, after a while, I remembered about this picture and decided to look at it - and it was worth it. I am shocked by this work of the famous Soviet director Ivan Pyriev, from whom I have seen only "Kuban Cossacks" so far. And here is my brief opinion for you - The life and torments of a front-line pianist. I want to note right away that there are no flaws in the picture, there was not and cannot be, but there is one point that I will talk about separately, but for now I will focus your attention on the expressive merits of this masterpiece of Russian cinema.
So, here they are:
1. Scenario - senior Lieutenant Andrey Balashov returns to the Moscow Conservatory after being wounded, who, after the performance of his friends, realizes that he will no longer be able to be a great pianist, as he was before the war. Tormented by this thought, he rushes to his native Siberian lands, where his talent is revealed again. His friends and beloved, who has been waiting for him since the war, also arrive here. And I have no right to tell you further, otherwise I will spoil all the viewing pleasure for you. This is both a love story, and the history of a Great Country, and the history of a Great People who have had hard trials. The characters cling with their thoroughness, sincerity, kindness, character, and cheerfulness. The images and characters were taken from real life, and skillfully processed by the best cinematographers of our country. The emotional involvement of the viewer here goes from the beginning to the very end. Even the episodic characters are perfectly revealed by just a couple of replicas. And the story itself turned out to be great and very patriotic.
2. The atmosphere is post-war Siberia, there are a lot of front-line soldiers around, shock construction of communism is underway, people from other regions of the Great Country are arriving in Siberia. Literally in the air there is a feeling of power and faith in a better future and that the Russian person is able to accomplish the impossible, and even nature is not able to prevent it. And the immortal music of the great composers of the past, the old Siberian folk songs, and the new compositions of the main character perfectly convey this atmosphere, as well as the views of mighty Siberia.
3. Everyday life - front-line soldiers with orders and medals, slogans on red cloth written in white paint, posters of war and peacetime, household items, wooden tables, chairs, bookshelves, theater posters - all this immerses the viewer in that era, already far from us, when relationships between people were simpler, and all problems were solved during a personal conversation. The picture shows these very relationships well, even if a little idealized, but you can believe it. All sorts of little things in the frame look good. I will never stop admiring such a thorough study of the little things, as they did in Soviet cinema.
4. Patriotism - the picture literally breathes love for Siberia, for the Motherland, for its people, who survived and won the most terrible war in the history of mankind, and after its end was able to restore the national economy ravaged by the enemy. And all this people did together, both old and young, and men and women, and veterans and civilians, and artists and locksmiths. As I have said more than once, a great bow to the heroic generation of my grandfather and my grandmother. The camerawork deserves special praise, because we were shown the real Siberia and Transbaikalia. There is pathos in the picture, but it is more appropriate than ever and this is done on purpose. It is precisely on such paintings that the younger generation needs to be educated. And the front-line soldiers are shown honestly and sincerely, especially when they sing or listen to music.
A little about the main characters:
1. Andrey Balashov performed by Vladimir Druzhnikov is a talented pianist who returned to the front after being wounded, which greatly influenced his worldview and all further actions. He wants to escape from music and acquaintances, but even in the Siberian taiga, music does not leave him, and seeing the heroic work of his compatriots, he has no choice but to re-learn how to play the piano virtuosically and not only. A brave officer, although he often shows indecision, is tormented by feelings, but in the end he makes the right decision. The hero, who was superbly played by Vladimir Druzhnikov. Bravo!
2. Natalia Malinina, performed by Marina Ladynina, is an artist of the Moscow Conservatory, Andrei's lover, who waited for him throughout the war, but did not dare to confess her love. A new meeting in Siberia only rekindled the barely extinguished fire. The finale is obvious here. A beautiful woman and a great singer, whose role was perfectly successful for our famous beauty Marina Ladynina (I remember her from the "Kuban Cossacks").
3. Yakov Burmak, performed by Boris Andreev, is a foreman of the Red Army, who arrived in Siberia for his beloved Anastasia, and in every way seeking her hand. He does not yet realize that he has an important role to play not only in resolving his affairs of the heart. As always, Boris Andreev perfectly played the role of a simple Russian peasant who cuts the truth of the uterus right in the face, and fulfills his promises, and for the happiness of his beloved he is ready to go home. Bravo!
Now let's talk about the unpleasant moment. The fact is that this masterpiece was seriously censored either in 1954 or in 1966, because the version of the picture that I watched (like most of my compatriots) is exactly cut down by ten minutes, and this is very noticeable when viewed. Mounting glues are visible, obvious traces of overdubbing. And the most annoying thing is that I couldn't find the first version anywhere. Of course, the film is fine without that, but the original is the original. I am sure that in the ten minutes cut out there was not only a portrait of Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin and conversations about him.
The painting is filled with vital energy and carries such a strong charge that can turn mountains, well, just like in the painting "Kuban Cossacks". Russian Russian cinema, yes, the picture is ideologized, yes, the life of Russian people in Siberia is embellished, but you know what - I will believe in this more than in the blackness and dirt of modern Russian cinema. Our modern "directors" would learn from real masters of the past, such as Ivan Pyriev, you see, and they will shoot a movie that does not make you sick.
As a result, we have another masterpiece of Soviet cinema, with a great script, bright characters, great music, beautiful views of Siberia, and great acting.
My rating is 10 out of 10 and my recommendation for viewing!
