In the Soviet Union in 1987 the film "Cold Summer of the Fifty-Third" was released, which was a real revelation for many viewers of that time. One of the first to openly and without embellishment, he showed all Soviet reality and the bitter tragedy of the Stalin era. The film, in addition to the recognition of the audience, received the Nika award as the best feature film and the USSR State Prize.
What did the movie Cold Summer of the Fifty-Three Deserve Such Recognition? Actors, screenwriters, directors and the entire crew have put a lot of work into the creation of motion pictures. As a result, a wonderful film recognized by viewers and film critics.
Plot
In the early spring of 1953, the great dictator, the father of all nations, Stalin, died. His place was temporarily taken by Beria, who was arrested already in the summer of that year. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR adopts a law on amnesty, according to which criminal prisoners are released. The whole film takes place in a small northern village where former political prisoners sent here to try to survive: Nikolai Skorobogatov, nicknamed Kopalych (once the chief engineer who received a political article for espionage), former intelligence officer captain Sergey Basargin, aka Luzga (convicted of something that was surrounded).
Six criminals escaped from the raid. They grab Zotov, the manager of the local trading post, and try to storm the local policeman Mankov, who has sat in the house with a machine gun. The leader of the bandits, a seasoned felon Baron, with the help of Zotov, lures a policeman, after which he is killed. Only defenseless local residents of the village remained in the settlement, who are locked in a warehouse. Luzga witnesses the attempted rape by the criminal of the daughter of a dumb cook and kills the bandit by stabbing him with a knife. The exiles now have weapons with which they begin to fight alone with the bandits.
Exhausted by their long stay in the camps, the terrible conditions of existence, the bullying and ridicule of the locals, they defend the lives of people without thinking about themselves. They are so used to always living in good conscience, honestly and without fear. Moreover, they already âfought backâ when their term was just beginning. And if for the scout Luzgi running, shooting and hiding is a common thing, then the quiet, calm and intelligent Kopalych showed real courage, not saving the criminals.
Film crew
The film was directed by Alexander Proshkin before the Cold Summer about thirteen films, of which the most popular are the series Mikhailo Lomonosov and the film Inspector Gull. In addition to directing, he writes scripts and is the People's Artist of Russia. One of his last works: "Paradise" and "Protection".
The script for the film was written by Edgar Dubrovsky, known for the detective mini-series âThe Adventures of Prince Floriselâ, the crime film âPreference on Fridaysâ and the action movie âTwo Long Beeps in the Fogâ.
The composer, so organically and accurately conveying with his music all the pain and tragedy, as well as joy and faith in the best, is Vladimir Martynov. He wrote melodies for such films as âIslandâ, âYouth of Peterâ, âAt the Beginning of Glorious Deedsâ, and many others. He also has Soviet cartoons beloved by young viewers.
Cold Summer Fifty-Third: Actors
The film picked up a surprisingly organic star cast. These are: People's Artist of the USSR Anatoly Dmitrievich Papanov (who knew firsthand the difficult times), Valery Mikhailovich Priyykhov (who, in addition to acting, was involved in directing and writing scripts), Yuri Alexandrovich Kuznetsov. Such stars as Nina Usatova, Viktor Fedorovich Stepanov, People's Artist of the RSFSR and WWII participant Vladimir Terentyevich Kashpur also starred in the tape.
Papanov Anatoly Dmitrievich
In the film, he played the role of Kopalych and was very convincing not only because of his exceptional talent, but also because he was close to this hero. This is a shy intellectual who, by cruel will of fate, found himself in conditions alien to himself, but steadfastly withstood all the tests sent to him. Faced with cruelty and violence, he did not become stiff, did not become coarse, but remained the same gentle and sensitive person. Looking at this calm and modest character, we hardly believe that he was not afraid of a flock of brutal bandits, but calmly and confidently looked into the face of the approaching death.
Papanov Anatoly Dmitrievich completely got used to his role, worrying about the image, passed through all the screen emotions. This was his last film. In the summer of that year, when the film was already shot, he died of a heart attack. On scoring tape he was no longer there. Instead, the voice of Igor Efimov sounds on the screen . For this role, Papanov was awarded the State Prize of the Soviet Union. Having received a serious injury during the Second World War, he remained disabled for life, which did not prevent him from going to his goal - to give joy to the audience.
After graduating from GITIS in 1946, he refused invitations to Moscow theaters and went to Lithuania, where he performed on the stage of the drama theater. Two years later, having returned to the capital, he began to work on the Moscow stage, simultaneously acting in films. His filmography has about sixty-five roles. Of these, both comedic (âDiamond Armâ, â12 Chairsâ), and deeply dramatic (âTwo Comrades Servedâ, âBelorussky Train Stationâ).
Valery Mikhailovich Priyemyov
Valery Priyemykhov in this film was able to masterfully accurately transform into a political prisoner. His Husk turned out to be restrained, stingy with emotions, which was Priemykhov himself. This role is considered one of the best in his filmography.
Valery had to go a long way to acting. At first, after graduating from the theater department, he played on the stage of the drama theater. Three years later, having arrived in Moscow, he entered the scriptwriting department of VGIK. After his graduation, Valery Priyemykhov could not find himself in the cinema for a long time, began to write scripts, and sometimes modified them after others. His first film as a screenwriter was "Ivan and Columbine." Then there were other films, the most famous of which were âUselessâ and âCrusaderâ.
Debuting as an actor, he immediately burst into the world of cinema with his memorable, unique game. Looking at his characters, it is impossible to believe that this is just a role, so accurately and successfully he displays his hero. There are no unnecessary, unnecessary emotions, pathos tear. He just lives on the screen every time a new life. The film âBoysâ brought him nation-wide love and recognition.
Yuri Alexandrovich Kuznetsov
Yuri Kuznetsov played in the film the role of the settlement manager Ivan Zotov. While still at school, he became interested in theater. After graduating from the acting department, he worked on stage in the theater. His first role in the movie was episodic, but the film itself, in which he starred, became iconic. After that, every year Yuri Kuznetsov was busy in films, became a very popular actor. To date, he starred in more than one hundred and twenty films, such as âTorpedo bombersâ, âMy friend Ivan Lapshinâ, the series âStreets of Broken Lightsâ and others.
Vladimir Terentyevich Kashpur
In this film, Vladimir Kashpur played the mariner Fadeich. At the age of seventeen, he participated in hostilities during the Second World War. Received many awards. He did not immediately connect his acting career. Only in 1959, after graduating from the Moscow Art Theater School, began to work on stage. The first film in which he starred was "Vasily Surikov." Following this came a landmark tape with his participation, "Ballad of a Soldier." There are more than 110 roles in his archive. Already at a deeply advanced age, Vladimir Kashpur continued to act, since until the last he remained in good shape. He knew how to work in different genres, but he managed to play the main roles only at the dawn of his acting. But even remaining a supporting artist, he managed to make his character memorable and lively.
Nina Usatova
The Peopleâs Artist of Russia played the role of the deaf-mute in this film. In order to accurately convey the image, she came to a boarding school for deaf people, where she studied their gestures and behavior. After this memorable role, fame came to her. She starred in more than 90 films, of which the most popular: Next, "Poor Nastya", "Island". Usatova and now continues to delight the audience with her sparkling game. The images that she embodies on the screen are unique, as is she herself.
Interesting Facts
The film Cold Summer of the Fifty-Third, whose actors you already know, was shot mainly in Karelia, in a small village called Ruga. It was not necessary to build decorations, since at that time the village was almost abandoned, and all the houses were empty. Today, this village no longer exists. But the marina with which the bandits were shouted is still preserved.
What else is famous for the film "Cold summer of the fifty-third"? The actors played their roles so reliably that after the picture was shown, the audience was interested in them, for which they "sat". In 1988, the film became the leader of film distribution in the USSR.
The film "Cold Summer of the Fifty-Third" (1987) was awarded many prizes and awards, among them there are international ones.
Happy viewing!