Boris Akunin wrote a detective trilogy about a nun who possessed the gift of a detective. "White Bulldog and Pelagia" - the first part (2001). Eight years later, Yuri Moroz, together with the TV channel "Russia", shot a series (8 episodes) under the same name. The actions that the actors "White Bulldog and Pelagia" recreate in the same way as in the novel, unfold in the XIX century in the vast Zavolzhsky province. A synodal inspector comes here to investigate all possible manifestations of paganism. It would seem that he should receive full support from the local bishop, governor, and some other personalities. But they are reluctant to meet him.
Series Summary
All the actors of āWhite Bulldog and Pelagiaā coped with the game quite expertly. The essence of the series is as follows: although part of the local population of the Volga region (the so-called zytyaki) adopted Christianity, it firmly held certain pagan positions in their religious consciousness. The governor, the bishop-bishop, the majority of the local population do not show a desire to cooperate with the inspector, since many of them lived side by side with their pupils for many years and did not want to spoil relations with them only because of differences in their religious worldview. At the same time, the aunt of Bishop Mitrofan was in a difficult situation when they began to harass her tribal bulldogs of white color. Work on the breeding of such dogs and the breeding of a new "Russian breed" went to her from her late husband. The bishop himself cannot come to the aid of his aunt and sends a young but insightful Pelagia, a nun from her monastery, who has already provided him with invaluable help at one time. Along the way, it becomes known about the death of the merchant and his nine-year-old son. Their heads are cut off. Tongues are under suspicion. However, Pelagia suspects one of the relatives of a wealthy aunt. On this, the killings do not stop. Princess Naina Georgievna and her governess become victims, and Pelagia sees a runaway man who looks like a werewolf.
Movie Characters
All the characters embodied by the actors "White Bulldog and Pelagia", vivid and fully characterizing the described era:
- The bishop (Vladyka Mitrofaniy) is a respected, intelligent, decent, spiritually educated, and business-savvy man.
- Pelagia (in the world - Lisitsyna Polina) - the right hand of the lord, an observant and insightful girl, with an excellent gift for the actress, easily transforming into a secular lady when necessary for the investigation. Detective "Pelagia and the White Bulldog", the actors and roles of which are very peculiar, can be viewed in one breath from series to series.
- Inspector Bubentsov - arrived on a mission to convert the local pagan population to the Orthodox faith. Differs in prudence and cynicism. At the same time, it is successful in the female sex. Many consider him an accomplice to the "unclean spirit."
- Generalsha Tatishcheva - the aunt of the lord, is engaged in breeding white bulldogs, has a changeable mood, because of which she constantly rewrites her will.
- Princess Telianova is the generalās granddaughter: a romantic and beautiful girl, but with a capricious and wayward character. She suddenly falls in love with a relative (cousin uncle), who does not pay attention to her at all. This relative is Inspector Bubentsov.
- There is still a talented manager Shiryaev, grandson of the princess, a nihilist with progressive thinking, but an infantile character - Peter Telianov, governess Mrs. Wrigley, the maid Tanyusha and, of course, bulldogs.
Boris Akunin and the shooting of the series
An interesting fact is that Akunin himself claimed the actors to play the main roles (Bishop, Pelagia) in the series and personally chose puppies. The rights to shoot the series were bought back in 2002. The contract stipulated the right of the author Boris Akunin to choose the main characters, who will be played by the actors of āWhite Bulldog and Pelagiaā on the set. He immediately considered Polina Kutepova the most suitable for the role of Pelagia. For more convincing confirmation, Akunin first recorded an audiobook, which was voiced by the actress, after which he finally established himself in his choice. For the filming, the nuns in the secular intended to take Polina's sister, her twin Ksenia, but the director considered that the best option would be to shoot one actress, as he was convinced later. The city of Zavolzhsk itself was shot in Suzdal, and the series was also shot in Moscow and Kirillov.
Bulldogs and Shooting
The actors and roles of the series āPelagia and the White Bulldogā chosen for filming were diluted with wonderful dogs. The breed of bulldogs is very mobile and restless. To make such animals lie and pretend to be dead is not an easy task. The film "White Bulldog and Pelagia" starred three adult dogs and two puppies. They were personally selected by the author of the trilogy. There was plenty of hassle in the studio. Dogs were not deprived of attention either. There are such shots where instead of real bulldogs lay soft exhibits, toys, since it was almost impossible to lay live dog actors. An interesting fact is that there is no āRussian Bulldogā breed at all, and the white color of the hair of bulldogs is not uncommon among various thoroughbred groups. After filming, actress Nina Usatova (generalsha), impressed by fellow bulldogs, was thinking about having such a pet.
Interesting Facts
Bubentsovās costume is real, absolutely similar to the original of the 19th century, and the clothes of a bishop weigh ten kilograms. So, actor Alexander Feklistov filmed a burden on himself weighing a little over 22 pounds. Actress Polina Kutepova was very disciplined, a little closed, but at the same time a friendly person. She conscientiously studied with the priest-consultant Alexei Volosenko all the tricks of the behavior of an Orthodox nun, for example, to take the blessing from the lord and much more. She did not argue with the director, she tried to listen to the task set before her and to qualitatively translate the idea of āāthe author, screenwriter and director on the screen. Since Boris Akunin also has books about a detective nun, they are talking about filming the continuation of the series āPelagia and the White Bulldogā (2009), the actors and roles of which have received well-deserved recognition among the audience.
Costumes of the governor and other characters
The governor is a character endowed with comic features. Therefore, her costume is somewhat outlandish. However, he was sewn according to the images of that time. Then in the pictures, fashionable dresses were somewhat hypertrophied, and Mrs. Wrigley was very fashion-conscious and sewed dresses from magazines. So she got some outlandish outfits. Costumes of other characters were also made with an eye on the era depicted, with the exception of the clothes of Inspector Bubentsov. The hair of the actress Daria Moroz, playing the governess, has the original color, but this is a wig. Polina Kutepova also used a wig when she turned into a socialite. Thanks to the excellent game and original costumes, in the film āPelagia and the White Bulldogā, the actors capture the attention of the viewer from the very beginning to the final scene.
Provincial Russia
The series āPelagia and the White Bulldogā itself is a 2009 release, but shows provincial Russia of the 19th century with its intricacies, folk style, way of life, mores and natural beauties. You can see fluttering butterflies, dragonflies and an abundance of flowers. The viewer has the opportunity to see how beautiful, but at the same time dangerous the river in the morning fog. And all the more surprising is the fact that, it turns out, in such quiet, beautiful corners of a provincial town there is a place for murders, prosecutions and other ailments of society. The current way of the province is easily violated by checking the controlling inspector, who in one movement controls the fate of many people. In the series, crime follows crime, and whoever commits lawlessness is at large until the last moment. But justice will inevitably overtake the guilty, even in the finale.