Social drama, created by director Nikolai Ekk in 1931, is deservedly considered a classic of Soviet cinema. “A trip to life” (front-line actors: N. Batalov, Y. Kirla, M. Dzhagofarov and M. Zharov) was enthusiastically received not only by the domestic audience, but also by the audience of the whole world. A picture was purchased for rental 26 states. Tickets for the first run were sold out in no time. By decision of UNESCO, the film was ranked among the top ten films of all time.
Plot. Tie
The film “A Trip to Life”, the actors and roles for which were selected under the strict control of censors, tells of one of the most important aspects of the life of the young Soviet republic in the twenties of the last century. After the revolution and a bloody civil war, not only industry and agriculture were destroyed, but also the education system, the upbringing of the younger generation.
Large-scale rampant homelessness and child crime have become a problem of national importance. To address this issue, labor education communes were organized. To supervise one of which Sergeyev Nikolay Ivanovich was appointed. This role was played by Nikolai Batalov. Eleven homeless children, including Mustafa, nicknamed “Firth”, who was embodied on the screen by Ywan Kirl, decided to change their life. Such is the plot of the storyline of the drama “A Trip to Life”. The actors involved in the work on the film, embodying the idea of the creators on the screen, met with the prototypes of their characters from the G. G. Yagoda labor commune before starting the production of the film.
Storytelling intrigue
Having lost his main assistant Mustafa, the leader of the young gang - Fomka Zhigan (the role of Mikhail Zharov) - made Kolka Whistle, the hero of actor Mikhail Dzhagofarov, with his right hand. They spent a lot of time together. However, Whistle quickly realized that life on the street in the company of Zhigan was much worse than in the commune. And then Nikolai and several guys who decided to break into the criminal past came to Sergeyev. The first time in the commune was the most difficult for adolescents. Old street habits made themselves felt. But a sincere desire to improve got the better.
At a time when the construction of a new life is in full swing in the commune, Zhigan, left without his best vassals, decides to regain influence over the guys by any means. So, without spoileriness, one can characterize the intrigue of the narrative of the painting “A Trip to Life”. The actors who took part in the filming of the film literally the morning after the premiere screening of the movie woke up famous in the vast expanses of the USSR.
History of creation
You can find out how the film “A Trip to Life” was shot from the memoirs of director Nicholas Ekk. According to an excerpt from his memoirs on the production of social drama, the plot was based on the real story of the foundation of an experimental school for former street children - organized by an employee of the OGPU M.S. Pogrebinsky of the labor commune named after G. G. Berries. The institution began its work in 1924 in the town of Bolshevo (now Korolev) in the Moscow region and consisted of fifty pupils from 13 to 17 years old.
The liquidated commune was after the unexpected arrest of G. G. Yagoda. Communards were distributed among various orphanages and boarding schools. Most of the episodes of the film “A Trip to Life”, the actors had the opportunity to play in the Bolshevik labor commune. Separate shots were taken in the Annunciation monastery of the city of Sarapul in Udmurtia. And only two scenes - the rebellion of the Communards and the arrival of homeless children in an educational institution - were shot in s. Kolomenskoye, located near the capital.
"A trip to life" became the first Soviet sound film, but at the same time the visual series of the film has several features characteristic of silent cinema. The tape is not rich in dialogues and monologues. It has much more explanatory inscriptions. The actors of the film “A Trip to Life” look awkward on the screen, as their mime and facial expressions are typical of silent pictures. The sound to the tape was recorded by the Tagefon system, which was developed by the USSR physicist P. G. Tager in 1926. Therefore, already in 1957, the movie was re-voiced. And in 1977, fully restored at the film studio to them. M. Gorky.
Acting Ensemble
Before starting work on the picture, almost all the participants in the film's ensemble had the opportunity to consult on exciting issues, communicate with community teachers, police officers and street children. Communication with really existing people had a huge impact on the interpretation of the characters in the picture. The main roles in the film were played by the following artists:
- Mustafa “Ferta” was embodied on the screen by the Mari Soviet poet and actor Yivan Kirla. After filming in “A Trip to Life”, he took part in the film “Viceroy of Buddha”, where he played a llama. On this his filmography ended.
- Mikhail Dzhagofarov played Kolka nicknamed "Whistle" (Nikolai Rebrov). Later, the actor went on the stage of the Dushanbe Russian theater. Until he went to the front, where he died the death of the brave in the battle for freedom and independence of the USSR.
- Nikolai Batalov, a Russian and Soviet film and theater actor, revealed to the viewer the character of N. I. Sergeyev, the founder of the labor commune. He was the most experienced and sophisticated performer in the film. Unfortunately, his creative career was interrupted by a deadly disease, not allowing his acting talent to be fully revealed.
- The performer of one of the main roles, Mikhail Zharov, has become so accustomed to his image and so believably played the role of Zhigan on the screen, that after the film was released, the thieves who stole his wallet returned him to the actor with an apology, recognizing his brother in him. One of them robbed Mikhail Ivanovich when he went to the store. Noticing the disappearance of a valuable thing, Zharov went to the door to the street. And he heard one of the thieves reproaching the accomplice that he did not recognize his.
Curious facts
The history of any film is always rich in interesting events and facts. The same thing happened with the painting "A ticket to life." The future great actress - Rina Zelenaya played her first debut role in the film. Her heroine was a girl from a Zhigan gang. This film work can rightfully be considered one of the first Soviet sound pictures. During its installation, a voice track superimposed on the film was used.