An emotional, piercing and frank film by Pavel Chukhrai again returns the viewer to the Stalin era. The actors of “Cold Tango” managed to recreate the picture of that time and convey the life stories of both main characters.
The story of the film
Pavel Chukhrai decided to take a picture of the difficult and contradictory years for Lithuania after reading the book “Sell Your Mother” by Efraim Sevela. In numerous interviews, the director repeatedly said that he did not pursue the idea of bringing discord and inciting ethnic hatred. The film is designed to show the desperate situation of the heroes, when one evil is replaced by another, no less terrible. The Holocaust, fascism, occupation and the imposed Soviet ideology - all this can destroy the soul of a simple person, eager to find peace in his country. The heroes have no choice: either cooperation with a totalitarian machine, or the preservation of a clear conscience and death at the hands of the executioners.
How to choose actors for "Cold Tango"
In 2017, viewers saw a picture that was amazing in its emotional coloring. Many critics considered that Julia Peresild was beautiful in the role of the young confused Lithuanian Lima. Only the actors of Cold Tango themselves know how difficult it was for them to cast and how many nerves it cost to qualify for Chukhrai. To star with a famous director, and even in a historical film, is prestigious for any artist. Already the famous actress, who has in the piggy bank such films as “The Edge”, “The Battle for Sevastopol”, was noticeably worried and awaiting the decision of the director with a sinking heart. What can we say about Rinal Mukhametov - for him the film "Cold Tango" became a real Everest.
Julia Peresild
The girl initially knew that this was not her role. The director saw Lyme in her, but this was contrary to all common sense. The actress played as if she wanted to prove to herself in the first place that she was able to get used to the image of any heroine. In Cold Tango, Julia Peresild was supposed not only to play the role of a broken and embittered woman, but also to reveal her sick soul. The actress herself claims that Lyme was supposed to be a fragile Lithuanian girl with a model appearance. That is how the director saw her. This did not at all correspond to the appearance of Julia, and until the last moment she did not believe that she would be approved. When a lot of time passed between calls from Chukhrai, she felt that he was trying to pick up another actress for the role. This greatly hurt the girl and hit her professional self-esteem. But in the end, she received a cherished invitation to shoot. And to judge how she managed to cope with her role in the film "Cold Tango" in 2017, the audience will have to.
Rinal Mukhametov
After the main role in the film “Attraction”, it was necessary to move on. To star in passing films for a young actor meant lowering his own bar. Samples for the role in the film Chukhrai were given to the artist very hard. It seemed that fate itself was against his participation in this historical tape. Sending a video business card, he did not count on much. After the first trials, the director did not increase confidence. Several scenes played with Peresild completely took away the last hope. The call with rejection upset the young actor, but he understood that age plays against him in this case. It took a long time before the director of casting said that it was decided to stay on his candidacy. Through such thorns, a talented actor made his way into Cold Tango. Undoubtedly, this role will be a good impetus for him, and in the future Rinal will remember the director with a kind word more than once.
The plot of "Cold Tango"
The action takes place in Lithuania. The 1940th brought Lithuanians two troubles at once. The first came from the Red Army. Having occupied a small country, the Soviet government began to establish its own rules. Not all citizens liked this kind of housekeeping attitude. The Nazis came next, and now the Lithuanians were graciously granted illusory freedom. In exchange for the lives of all local Jews, it was suggested that they live as they please. This position seemed to the population much more seductive, and they began to actively help the Nazis to exterminate the Jews.
Among the large number of elected people was little Max. He was sent to a death camp with his sister and mother. The life of the boy was saved by love for the Lithuanian girl Laima. For her sake, he went through all the horrors and was able to escape from the Nazis. But returning to his native home, he discovered that now his beloved father lives there. The man began to work with the Germans to save his family. At first, he does not want to see a little Jew and is trying to surrender him to the Germans. But the daughter does not allow him to do this. Max hides in his former home for a while. Between him and Lyme, feelings are growing stronger.
Deja vu
The coming of the Red Army is again returning the old order. All Nazi accomplices are forced to flee into the forests, including Laima’s father. Max sent to the Soviet Union and identified in the orphanage. In 1950, he returned to his homeland. Having a musical background, he settles in a restaurant. There he sings Lyme songs. Max is still in love with the blonde, but the girl has changed dramatically over the years. Her heart burns hatred of the Russian invaders. Because of them, she lost her family and was forced to live under their oppression in her own country.
Embittered and broken, she must speak to the hated Soviet officers. The girl does not want to have anything to do with her childhood friend. She answers contempt for all his tokens. He was raised by Soviet propaganda and does not understand how it feels to live in his own country and feel like a slave. Max does not lose hope of winning the heart of his beloved. With his actions, he tries to warm her with affection and prove that no systems have power over a person if love lives in his soul.