10 Soviet films about the Great Patriotic War that you need to show your children

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

There are films that will not leave anyone indifferent, even modern teenagers spoiled by special effects. And all because they contain the real history of the country and the people, true love, tragedy and that painful thing about which it is very difficult to say in words. In our review of 10 Soviet films about the Great Patriotic War, which should definitely be shown to your growing up children.

1. "The Cranes Are Flying", 1957, directed by Mikhail Kalatozov

The film with amazing emotional power tells about ordinary people, whose destinies have been mercilessly invaded by the war.

"The Cranes Are Flying" was the only Soviet film to be awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

After watching the film, Nikita Khrushchev did not appreciate him, and called the main character, played by Tatiana Samoilova, "sh..hoi."

Before the screening of the film in Cannes, Pablo Picasso said to Tatyana Samoilova: "", and after watching the film he called him a genius.

2. "Young Guard", 1948, directed by Sergei Gerasimov

Some of them were a recognized hooligan, some did not even think about exploits, some did not want to listen to instructions, obey discipline, but all of them were united by the desire to throw off the fascist yoke.

In the early 1960s, the film was subjected to serious corrections due to the identification of new facts and circumstances associated with the "Young Guard", as well as because of the decisions of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union about the personality cult of Stalin.

The scene of the execution of the Young Guard was filmed in the middle of the night, but still thousands of people gathered from all the neighborhoods, who personally knew the Young Guard. After all, only 5 years have passed since the tragic events. Many cried, and the parents of the dead heroes fainted.

3. "The Dawns Here Are Quiet …", 1972, directed by Stanislav Rostotsky

Girls who dream of great love and family warmth have to enter into an unequal battle with enemy paratroopers.

In the film, the pre-war and post-war times are shown in color, and the war is shown in black and white.

The writer Boris Vasiliev, based on whose story of the same name the film was filmed, came to the set only once and said that he would remain a fan of Lyubimov's play, but did not agree with the concept of the film version.

There was a scene in the film where young anti-aircraft gunners sunbathe naked on a tarp. The director had to remove it. Rostotsky, defending the episode, said: "".

4. "Aty-bats were soldiers …", 1977, directed by Leonid Bykov

Tragedy, comedy, lyrics and heroism are intertwined in a film about a Komsomol platoon, which at the cost of its own life stopped a column of German tanks.

"Guardians of morality" accused Bykov of "propaganda of debauchery." And this despite the fact that the only love scene in the film lasts a couple of minutes, and the characters in clothes buttoned up are just talking.

“A man does not cry, a man is upset,” is one of the most famous quotes of this film.

5. “Only“old men”go into battle, 1973, director Leonid Bykov

This film has everything: the heat of battles, and the joy of the first victory over the enemy, and the greatness of brotherhood, sealed with blood, and first love, and the bitterness of loss … And the "old people" are no more than 20 years old.

The film "Only Old Men Go to Battle" is based on the recollections of Soviet pilots. Hero of the Soviet Union Vitaly Popkov, who served during the war in the legendary 5th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment under the command of Vasily Stalin, became the prototype of the main character of the film, Lieutenant Titarenko (aka Maestro). there was a choir of its own.

Two planes were donated to the regiment by the Utesov orchestra, and one bore the inscription "Merry guys".

Not only high-ranking officials of the Ukrainian cinema, but also front-line pilots, including three times Hero of the Soviet Union, Alexander Pokryshkin, who shot down 59 fascist planes in 156 air battles, were invited to the delivery of the film at the State Committee for Cinematography of Ukraine. The film shocked him so much that when the lights were turned on in the hall, Pokryshkin did not hesitate to wipe away his tears.

6. "Father of a Soldier", 1973, directed by Rezo Chkheidze

A film about humanity, family, heroism, love and victory.

The scriptwriter Suliko Zhgenti volunteered for the front during the Great Patriotic War, served in amphibious assault units, was seriously wounded. The prototype of the protagonist of the film "Soldier's Father" served with Suliko Zhgenti.

Rezo Chkheidze admitted that the best review of the film for him was a letter from Sevastopol, which told an amazing incident. A man came to the police and confessed that he had committed theft. Explaining the motives for his action, he said: "I just watched the film" Soldier's Father "and decided that I will live honestly in this world."

Director Rezo Chkheidze:.

7. "They Fought for the Motherland", 1975, director Sergei Bondarchuk

July 1942. Approaches to Stalingrad. Bloodless and exhausted Soviet troops are conducting heavy defensive battles and are suffering huge losses …

The film was filmed in places where real battles took place, and while digging trenches, the film crew found many human bones that were immediately given for reburial. Sappers constantly found the remains of mines.

Pyrotechnics used five tons of TNT to reproduce explosions and explosions of shells during filming.

8. "The Fate of a Man", 1975, directed by Sergei Bondarchuk

The film tells about a Russian soldier who underwent terrible trials during the war years, was left without a home and without a family, ended up in a concentration camp, but managed not only to survive, but also defended his right to be a human being.

The young actor who played the role of Vanyushka was only 5 years old. For a long time, the director could not choose any of the children whom their parents brought to auditions. And Bondarchuk saw Pavlik Boriskin when he came with his father to the House of Cinema for a screening of some children's film.

The outstanding Italian director Roberto Rossellini, having watched the film, noted with admiration: "".

9. "Ivan's Childhood", 1962, director Andrei Tarkovsky

… The childhood of 12-year-old Ivan ended on the day when the Nazis shot his mother and sister in front of him.

The story "Ivan" by Vladimir Bogomolov, based on which the film was filmed, was first published in the magazine "Banner" in 1957. Subsequently, the story was republished 200 times and translated into 40 languages.

The film "Ivan's Childhood" became the first Soviet motion picture to win the "Golden Lion".

“We didn’t know such a war yet, nobody showed us such a war,” Karen Shakhnazarov said about the film after watching.

10. "Come and See", 1985, director Elen Klimov

The film is based on real events and documentary facts and refers to Ales Adamovich's “Khatyn story”.

The film was originally supposed to be called Kill Hitler. The title was the only censorship change the director agreed to.

After the premiere of the film, TimeOut magazine wrote: "".

Despite the fact that so many years have passed, our contemporaries also turn to the theme of the Great Patriotic War. So, ghosts of the Second World War in the photo project of Sergei Larenkov, a former naval pilot, are of interest to both specialists and history buffs. His photographs show Moscow, Berlin, Prague, Vienna and Paris - photos from the Second World War are combined with modern photographs taken from the same angle.

For those who are not limited to viewing photos, but seeks to learn more about the history of the war, it will be useful to read Soviet school textbooks, free download which you can from the page of our site.