11 Soviet films that were nominated for the Oscar

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The Oscar is the most important and prestigious award for filmmakers. The coveted golden statuette is the dream of directors and actors, screenwriters and composers who create soundtracks for films. In the entire history of Soviet cinema, only a few films have been awarded this serious award. And there weren't so many Oscar nominees from the Soviet Union.

"The defeat of the German troops near Moscow", winner of 1943 - "Best documentary"

The Soviet documentary film by Ilya Kopalin and Leonid Varlamov was filmed in the most difficult time for the USSR, when the enemy came close to Moscow, and the Soviet army suffered colossal losses. The victory in the battle for Moscow turned out to be all the more significant. The film was re-edited and re-dubbed to be shown at the American box office. In the United States, it went under the name "Moscow Strikes Back" ("Moscow strikes back"). At that time, it was very difficult to overestimate the relevance and significance of the picture taken by front-line operators, and therefore the victory at the Oscar was quite understandable.

War and Peace, 1969 winner - Best Foreign Film

The film by Sergei Bondarchuk has become a real masterpiece. Spectacularity, scale, talented acting of actors, unique directorial approach, greatness of battle scenes and today, during high technologies, excite the imagination. No wonder many people call the epic the best adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace".

"The Brothers Karamazov", 1970 nominee - "Best Foreign Language Film"

Unfortunately, the director Ivan Pyriev did not manage to finish filming the film, he died of a heart attack in February 1968, and the third part was filmed by Kirill Lavrov and Mikhail Ulyanov, who were the leading actors. Unfortunately, the film did not take the Oscar, losing to the Algerian thriller Zeta.

Tchaikovsky, 1972 nominee - Best Foreign Language Film and Best Soundtrack

Despite the fact that Igor Talankin's film tells not about the whole life of the great composer, but only about a few episodes, the picture gives an idea of the worldview of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the sources of his talent. And amazing music plays throughout the film.

"… The Dawns Here Are Quiet", 1973 nominee - Best Foreign Language Film

A poignant story about a group of female anti-aircraft gunners leaves no one indifferent. Almost half a century has passed since the creation of the film, and Stanislav Rostotsky's painting still remains in demand by a wide range of viewers.

Dersu Uzala, winner of 1976 - Best Foreign Language Film

The work on the film based on the novel of the same name by the traveler and explorer of the Far East Vladimir Arsenyev has been going on for three years. For the filming of the film, the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa was invited, whose special vision allowed the film to receive a prestigious award as a result.

White Bim Black Ear, 1979 nominated for Best Foreign Language Film

The film by Stanislav Rostotsky was based on the story of the same name by Gabriel Troepolsky, which is still included in the compulsory literature program in American colleges. The picture turned out to be very touching, and in the finale, a rare viewer will be able to keep from crying.

Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears, 1981 winner - Best Foreign Language Film

The film by Vladimir Menshov is known, loved and watched by several generations of viewers. The fate of the three young provincial women who came to conquer the capital seems simple and understandable. But there is something in the picture that touches the soul with light, kindness, hope for a happy future and faith in the all-conquering power of love.

Private Life, 1983 nominee - Best Foreign Language Film

A painting by Yuliy Raizman about the fate of a man who for many years ran an enterprise and was forced to retire due to reorganization. Along with his pension, loneliness and misunderstanding on the part of loved ones came into his life. And only a look at himself from the outside allowed the main character to still try to change something. There is no ideological background in the film, and the focus is on the person and his ability to adapt to new circumstances.

A Field War Novel, 1985 nominated for Best Foreign Language Film

In the film by Peter Todorovsky, there is a war and post-war life. But it is, first of all, about love. The first, and therefore naive and touching, doomed to be unhappy. And about adult love, with a responsible attitude and a wish for happiness, even to the detriment of oneself.

Cow, 1990 nominee - Best Animated Short Film

The animated film was directed by Alexander Petrov based on the story of the same name by Andrey Platonov. The director managed on the screen in all details to convey the state of the boy, who was grievingly experiencing the death of his friend, a steppe cow of the Cherkasy breed.

Modern cinema is simply impossible to imagine without vivid special effects that attract viewers no less than a fascinating plot and talented acting. Visual effects in cinematography are constantly being improved, and the best specialists in computer graphics are working on them. More than 70 films have been awarded the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.