Behind the scenes of the film "Taras Bulba": Why Bogdan Stupka considered this picture the most terrible in his acting career

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

Action-drama "Taras Bulba" directed by Vladimir Bortko, almost immediately after its release in 2009, literally tore the audience into two polar camps, which in itself indicates that this work of a talented master was able to really catch on. And not only to hook each viewer individually, but also to affect the interests of several neighboring powers. No matter what disputes are about this film today, no matter how some - scolded, and others - praised it, but everyone agrees on one thing - for his film Bortko picked up an amazing cast who did their job brilliantly.

Recall that "Taras Bulba" is a feature film, which was filmed based on the immortal work of the same name by Nikolai Gogol, about strong-willed people, love and betrayal, devotion to the native land and the Cossack brotherhood. This film, shot by Vladimir Bortko in 2008, is a truly epic canvas, where pain, anguish, eternal search, ups and downs of the national spirit are clearly manifested.

Separately, I would like to say a few words about the director Vladimir Bortko, who has long established himself as an excellent filmmaker of classic works of art. Many people know his works "The Idiot", "Heart of a Dog", and now here is "Taras Bulba", which cost $ 16 million (and this is a rather modest budget). - so said Bortko after the picture was published.

I would also like to remind the reader that in the world cinema this story by Gogol was filmed nine times by studios from different countries, but, of course, the film by Vladimir Vladimirovich was recognized as the best picture.

For more information about the failed attempts to film the immortal work of Nikolai Gogol by Soviet directors, read: Why in the USSR they could not make a film about Taras Bulba and for which later its distribution was banned in Ukraine.

Pros and cons of the movie "Taras Bulba"

According to most critics and discerning audiences, the film is very powerful. And the only thing he lacked was timing. Almost all the important episodes of the picture fall a little short of their logical completeness. They cut off abruptly, as it were, in the middle of a word, and each subsequent episode leaves the feeling that something important has remained behind the scenes. Due to the lack of time, a lot of things turned out to be somehow compressed, crumpled and understated.

As for the artistic component, in the opinion of most experts, the film was shot quite well: authentic historical costumes, excellently selected actors, their performance at a high level, excellent camera work. The biggest disadvantage, which everyone, without exception, is talking about is the extras. The battle scenes of the second plan are devoid of organic matter and are very sluggish, the battles themselves are unrealistic. In a word, the gray background shading the bloody mess does not impress the viewer at the proper level. By the way, about 1000 participants of mass shootings, more than a hundred stuntmen took part in the film.

But the very mess of blood and dirt in the foreground shocks and impresses even the seasoned audience. But death is really scary … This is dirt, and blood, and suffering, and tears - as Vladimir Bortko showed in his picture. Murder, in its essence, should be disgusting, and in this the director in his work fully achieved the goal.

You can often find a reproach towards the picture - there is too much patriotism and too much pathos. But how else can you convey to the viewer the state of a person who, for faith, for his homeland, for his brothers-in-arms, went wrong death or was subjected to terrible torment and torture. No way, only through the psychoemotional coloring of the highest feelings.

Many also believe that the film was saved by an exceptionally excellent acting job. Only this is his strength. And there is a huge grain of truth in this. The director really managed to gather both Russian and Ukrainian celebrities on the set. Mikhail Boyarsky played the role of "the good Cossack Mosiy Shilo", and the famous Cossack Taras Bulbu - Bogdan Stupka. His wife is played by Ada Rogovtseva. Their sons are Vladimir Vdovichenkov and Igor Petrenko. And this is not the whole list of famous artists.

A few words about the plot

The events of the film take place at a difficult time for the Zaporozhye Cossacks, the struggle with the Commonwealth - on the one hand, and with the Crimean Tatars - on the other. In the center of the plot is the fate of the Cossack Bulba and his two sons - the elder Ostap - a devoted courageous warrior and the younger Andriy, who preferred to renounce his father, brother and Motherland for the sake of love for the beautiful Polish lady.

Bulba was a stubborn and dashing warrior, a hero of his time. This was one of those characters that could appear in the difficult 15th century in that part of Europe, which was torn apart by the civil strife of the Russian princes, devastated by raids by the Tatar horde, and the Polish gentry tried to crush it.

It was in that legendary era that a brotherhood of the brave and desperate, capable of resisting all adversity, arose. It was then that the Cossacks were born, becoming an example of courage and courage, devotion and brotherhood.

Bogdan Stupka: "Taras Bulba" is the scariest film in my acting practice"

One of the brightest moments of the film, when Taras sees Andria at the head of the Polish hussars: his father is not his father, and his brother is not a brother … It is difficult to imagine what the old man feels when he sees such a betrayal of his son. Rage? Confusion? Burning shame? The viewer sees all this gamut of emotions on the face of the actor Bogdan Stupka.

The psychologically colored episode leaves no one indifferent and touches the deepest strings of the soul. Of course, only thanks to the brilliant performance of the greatest actor of our time, this episode turned out to be so amazing.

According to all viewers and all critics, this is the best role of Bogdan Silvestrovich in his entire creative career. And now it is already impossible to imagine any other actor in this role.

The actor himself told about the work on the film:

Later, Bogdan Stupka, giving an interview, admitted that for him an incredibly difficult moment in the film occurs when Taras kills his son Andriy for treason.

This role has become a landmark in the career of a Ukrainian actor and will forever enter the golden fund of national cinema.

Cossack Mosy Shilo

The concept of "Cossack" and "Boyarsky" is somehow not immediately embedded in the head, since for most of us this actor will forever remain d'Artagnan or Chevalier de Brilli. And at first glance, his image of a Cossack looked really slightly comical, but we must pay tribute to Boyarsky: he gave his best!

The actor himself talked about how he got on the set of "Taras Bulba" as Mosiy Shilo: At the persuasion of Bortko Boyarsky said: "I am honored to play a Cossack."

After lengthy negotiations, Boyarsky still managed to be tried for the role of the Zaporozhye Cossack. Surrendering, the director admitted the actor to photo tests. But, initially promised the role of ataman Boyarsky did not get, and he had to be content with the episodic role of Mosiy Shilo: This happened when Boyarsky, performing a trick, had to lead three horses at full gallop with one hand.

Dedyushko and Khmelnitsky played their death

The role of Boris Khmelnitsky in "Taras Bulba" was the last in the life of the actor. He did not even have time to voice his character, later he was voiced by Dzhigurda. And Khmelnitsky, in the frame having said the last words of his role: “It seems to me, brothers and sisters, that I am dying a good death,” two weeks later he really died without seeing his hero on the big screen. Oncology became the cause of his death.

Hero Alexander Dedyushko in a bloody battle is killed by the Poles, lifting him on pikes and throwing him to the ground. And then Gogol's text began: “And the young soul flew out. The angels raised her by the arms and carried her to heaven. It so happened that during the shooting, on the words “and the young soul flew out,” a crane suddenly appeared in the sky, and began to walk in circles over the impromptu carnage. The operator managed to shoot this amazing shot. It seemed to everyone then mysticism. But soon the actor was gone, he and his family crashed in a car accident.

Magdalena Melcazh

The role of the lady was very organically played by the Polish actress and model Magdalena Melcazh. They took on the role of a Polish girl, not because their girls are more beautiful, but because the mentality is felt right away. And is it important. And, since Gogol did not bother to name the Polish beauty, in the film, according to the script, she was named Elzbieta and her storyline was developed more broadly.

The same was the case with the actor Lubomyras Laucevičius, who played the role of the Polish governor.

Sergei Dreiden played their roles brilliantly in the role of an entertaining character - the Jew-Yankel; Les Serdyuk - in the role of a Cossack characterist, the right hand of Taras - Esaul Tovkach.

Landscapes, costumes and decorations

The film was shot in Western Ukraine - Kamenets-Podolsky, and Eastern - Kiev, Zaporozhye, Askania-Nova, in the Crimea.

I would like to say a few words separately about the delightful landscapes against which the Zaporozhye Sich was filmed. The greatness and extraordinary beauty of the island of Khortytsya, the endless Ukrainian steppes, farms, fortresses … Everything is so real, fascinating and amazing imagination!

Costumes of actors, scenery - this is a huge work of costume designers and decorators who managed to create a vivid picture of the era reflected in the story.

Summing up the above, I would like to say that the film was filmed very on time, when, perhaps, it is not too late to come to our senses and remember that we, Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians are brothers Slavs. We have common roots and history, common heritage of world culture and mentality. In fact, we have nothing to share. The theme of loyalty and betrayal, raised in the film, is very relevant today. Moreover, not only at the interpersonal level, but also at the interstate level.

Therefore, the interpretation of Gogol's tale of valor and honor, of torment and suffering, burning bonfires and the power of love, deserves a completely different angle of consideration than the banal looking for movie bloopers and digging in the little things, which some viewers like to do so much.

The role of Taras Bulba in the work of Bogdan Stupka is today considered the most organic and best in the career of an actor. Read about the personal life and creative path of the genius master of reincarnation in the review: Why negative characters were the favorite role of one of the most talented actors in Soviet cinema, Bogdan Stupka.