In connection with the centenary of the Great October Revolution, the Russian channel released a number of films dedicated to this event. One of them is “Demon of Revolution”, whose actors performed their work amazingly.
Background
The October and February Revolutions radically influenced the course of history not only of Russia, but of the whole world. 1917 is the third year of the First World War. The state is taking all measures to maintain the front. The country is tense. The people are unhappy. Dissatisfied with my position. Dissatisfied with participation in the war. Dissatisfied with the reign of Nicholas II. It was during this period that the February Revolution erupted. It is preceded by a series of riots and rallies.
The emperor is provoked to sign the abdication of the throne. Power passes to the interim government under the leadership of A. Kerensky. And already in October, “the father of the proletariat” - V. I. Lenin returns.
Under his leadership, a coup is swiftly and mercilessly undergoing. They are shooting the tsar’s family, Russia is leaving the war, and the administration passes personally into Lenin’s hands.
It seems that everything is logical, but more and more often facts come to light indicating that another character is behind this event. The series “Demon of Revolution” actors can be considered one of their best works.
Plot of the film
The plot of the film unfolds in 1915, when theorist and publicist A. Parvus is in talks with the German Foreign Minister. Germany feared the Russian Empire and its participation in the First World War prevented the achievement of all goals. For a successful outcome of Germany, it was necessary to withdraw Russia from the game, to switch its attention to internal problems. But they still had to be created.
This task fell on the shoulders of Parvus. The German government allocated the necessary funds to achieve its plans and carry out all fraud. He contacts the leader and ideologist of the revolution Vladimir Lenin. The actors of the film “Demon of Revolution” tried to convey the glow of this period. Being engaged in hidden propaganda and possessing psychological skills, he successfully manipulates people with the skill of a puppeteer. But not everything is as smooth as it might seem. Aleksei Mezentsev, a counterintelligence agent, appears on his way.
The main idea of the film “Demon of Revolution”, the actors call the disclosure of the role of financing and support of the Bolsheviks by Germany in the person of Parvus. The events shown in the film are not historically reliable. They are not confirmed by any sources. The basis is guesswork and little-known data.
Fragments from works of art were also used, in particular A. Solzhenitsyn's “Red Wheel”. Similar sources talk about the love of Parvus. Based on this, the scriptwriters depicted a lyrical line in the plot. For these reasons, the film is not documentary, but feature.
The series “Demon of Revolution”: actors and roles
The cast was selected not from external similarities, but from the point of view of skill.
So A. Parvus is a chubby man with a puffy look and a short well-groomed beard. In the film, he is played by Fyodor Bondarchuk - thin, with a small beard of Mephistopheles. The role of Vladimir Lenin went to Yevgeny Mironov, known for the films “Anchor, More Anchor”, “In August of the 44th”, “Idiot”. Well conveying the mood and character of the character, he is completely unlike him.
The counterintelligence agent was played by M. Matveev, Nadezhda Krupskaya - Daria Ekamasova, Sofya Rudyeva - Paulina Andreeva. For a good movie - good actors. The “Demon of Revolution” is just such a picture.
Prototype protagonist
Alexander Parvus is the pseudonym of a famous person, at birth he was named Israel Lazarevich Gelfand.
Born in Belarus on September 8, 1867. His father was a Jew. He is forced to move with his family to Odessa. Here, Israel became an active participant in various youth circles with a revolutionary spirit. He was educated in Germany - he graduated from the University of Basel with a Ph.D. He moves to Germany and becomes a member of the Social Democratic Party. It is actively published, but in 1893 an order was issued to expel him from Germany. Soon he returns here under the pseudonym Parvus. He chose this nickname for himself by signing one of his articles.
During the exile, Parvus settled in London, where he became close to the Russian revolutionaries. In addition, he travels around Russia, collecting information for his book on the famine of 1896.
Being a supporter of Marxism, he often sharply expressed his political views, causing dissatisfaction with senior officials. In 1890, his apartment became a gathering center for Russian and German Marxists. Among them was V. Lenin and L. Trotsky. In the film “Demon of Revolution”, actors through roles try to convey this side of the acquaintance of the theorist and revolutionaries.
Having learned about the ideas of the Russian revolution, Parvus decided to cash in on this issue and invited the German government to contribute to the activists' plans. Germany had to agree, as their goals coincided. For himself, Alexander was looking for material benefits. He did not receive the required amount for the implementation of all plans for the achievement of the Revolution, the overthrow of the Russian monarchy, which the Marxist outlined on 20 sheets, but an initial contribution of 1 million rubles. Germany singled out.
As you know, the revolution was accomplished, the goal was achieved, although not as expected. Parvus realized his dream, became a rich man. But having compromised himself, he was deprived of the possibility of entering Russia and of any participation in the further development of the revolution.
Producer
The film was directed by Vladimir Khotinenko in 1952 in Altai. From childhood, he dreamed of becoming a pilot, but vision problems prevented the fulfillment of his dreams. Having changed several specialties, by the will of fate he ran into Nikita Mikhalkov. It was he who advised the young man to go to the cinema.
Having tried himself both as an actor and as a director, he nevertheless settled on the second. The debut directorial work “Alone without Arms” of 1984 was presented at the All-Union Film Festival and earned the prize “For Debut”.
In addition to directing, V. Khotinenko is engaged in pedagogy. Teaches students of VGIK directing and screenwriting and became the head of MITRO at the faculty of directing.
“Demon” versus “Trotsky”
Viewers can see on their screens 2 similar series about people whose fates crossed and provoked an “explosion” in history. Therefore, the plot lines of both films are intertwined. As a result, you can compare the game of various actors of the “Demon of Revolution” and “Trotsky” in the same way. What movie will be more remembered and loved by the audience will be determined over time? So far, these are stunning paintings that reveal the secret sides of famous historical events.