1612 (film)

April 2020 1612 1612_movie_poster.jpg Promotional poster Vladimir Khotinenko Nikita Mikhalkov Arif Aliyev Michał Żebrowski (Poland)Pyotr KislovMikhail PorechenkovVioleta DavydovskayaRamón Langa es (Spain)Artur SmolyaninovMarat Basharov 2007 11 01 y Russia RussianPolishSpanishItalianDutch $12,000,000 1612 is a 2007 Russian epic historical drama film about the 17th century Time of Troubles and the Polish–Muscovite War with the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was directed by Vladimir Khotinenko and produced by Nikita Mikhalkov. The film was released on 1 November 2007, to coincide with the celebrations of National Unity Day on 4 November that marks the expulsion of Polish troops from Moscow. Plot The film is set in Russia during the Time of Troubles, a period of civil disorder, famine and Polish invasion that followed the fall of the Rurik dynasty, which had ruled Russia in various capacities from 862 to 1598. The protagonist, Andrey, had been a servant at Tsar Boris Godunov's court while he was a boy, where he became the sole witness to the murder of the Tsar's family by the order of plotting boyars. Andrey is then sold to slavery. Now, seven years later, he is bought by a Spanish mercenary, Alvaro Borja, who seeks to profit from this war by fighting for the Polish invading army. The company falls prey to a band of robbers and Alvaro is killed. Andrey and his friend Kostka know that serfs without a master are considered runaways and will be hanged. Andrey disguises himself in his dead master's clothes and assumes his name, taking the guise of a "Spanish knight." Andrey is hired by the Polish Lord Kybowsky, who wants to capture Moscow and use Princess Xenia Godunova to raise himself to the Crown. As they approach a city, Andrey protects a Russian girl from the Polish soldiers. Andrey's true identity is discovered and he is arrested. Kostka however frees Andrey and steals Princess Xenia (she drank sleeping medicine) and with the help of his Russian girlfriend, they sneak over to the Russian garrison. Unfortunately the Russians tell them that Prince Dmitri Pozharsky had led most of the troops to Moscow with all the city cannons. Andrey then makes a cannon of leather. At dawn, the Polish army demands the city's surrender. Andrey fires a hot cannonball into the Polish ammunition storage, which explodes, killing most of the army surrounding the fortress. The next day, more Poles arrive and attack the city, but the Russians hold firm. Kybowsky orders all the cannon on the gate breaking a way into the city. Meanwhile, Andrey moves their cannon off the wall and to the gate. The Husaria begin to charge. Andrey loads a chain shot into the cannon and they fire as the enemy closes, decapitating the Polish Hussars. The gate collapses and the rest begin to flee. Kybowsky calls Andrey to negotiations, saying that if Xenia does not come out herself, he will kill her daughter. Andrey himself leads her out of the city. Soon Andrey joins the Russians at Moscow. The Battle for Moscow lasts for three days. The Polish flee in defeat and Kybowsky is captured. Andrey calls him to a duel and kills him. The Russian nobles are angry at Xenia because she had converted to Catholicism, and send her to live in a monastery. Soon, a new Tsar is elected, Michael Romanov, whose dynasty rules Russia for the next 300 years. Historical accuracy The film is based on historical events and includes some fictional elements. According to the anti-Putin opposition coalition The Other Russia, "most of the history [in the film] has been diluted beyond recognition".http://www.theotherrussia.org/2007/11/05/in-%221612%22-unicorns-meet-tsars/ In "1612," Unicorns Meet Tsars The Other Russia 5 November 2007 4 April 2009January 2021 InternetArchiveBot yes The movie takes artistic freedom with real events. In the film, Polish troops are thrown back from Moscow, but they actually held the city for two years. Also, Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, who were instrumental in organizing the popular uprising that led to the expulsion of Polish-Lithuanian forces, appear only briefly at the movie's conclusion.Tom Birchenough https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975238.html?categoryid=1043&cs=1 '1612' makes date with Russia Variety 1 November 2007 4 April 2009 29 June 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080629002349/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975238.html?categoryid=1043&cs=1 dead Controversy Critics of the Kremlin have compared it to Soviet propaganda. Questions were raised about the alleged anti-Polonism of the movie, but the film's director, interviewed in the Polish as well as Russian press, stressed that the movie was in no way intended to defame Poles. The director, Vladimir Khotinenko, claimed it was made for entertainment purposes as well as to raise awareness of the new holiday among the general public.Anna Żebrowska http://wyborcza.pl/1,75480,3707451.html Taśmy Kremla. Smuta krzepi Gazeta Wyborcza Polish 31 October 2006Jerzy Malczyk http://polonia.pap.net.pl/2007/10/20071031163616.html Rosja: Władimir Chotinienko: nie byłbym w stanie nakręcić antypolskiego filmu Polish dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110824224618/http://polonia.pap.net.pl/2007/10/20071031163616.html 24 August 2011 International as well as Russian critics suggest that the movie, which was commissioned by the Kremlin, showcases key political ideas pushed by the Kremlin in advance of the parliamentary elections of December 2007: the necessity of strong leadership, the treachery of foreigners, and the importance of patriotism. The Time of Troubles, as portrayed in the film, represents the last decade of the 20th century, when Russia was undergoing severe hardships. Khotinenko was quoted as saying, "It's important for me that the audience feel pride. That they didn't regard it as something that happened in ancient history but as a recent event. That they felt the link between what happened 400 years ago and today."May 2019 References Tom Birchenough http://pda.moscowtimes.ru/article.php?aid=180762 Very Bloody Troubles The Moscow Times 2 November 2007 dead https://archive.today/20130113143447/http://pda.moscowtimes.ru/article.php?aid=180762 13 January 2013 Chris Baldwin https://www.reuters.com/article/asiaEntertainment/idUSIndia-30309520071103 Action movie an allegory for Putin's Russia Reuters 3 November 2007 External links 1139085 1612 Category:2000s historical adventure films Category:2000s war adventure films Category:2007 Russian films Category:2007 Russian-language films Category:Russian historical adventure films Category:Russian historical drama films Category:Russian adventure drama films Category:Russian war drama films Category:Russian swashbuckler films Category:2007 films Category:Films set in the 1610s Category:Films set in Russia Category:Films set in Moscow Category:Films shot in the Czech Republic Category:Films directed by Vladimir Khotinenko Category:Films produced by Nikita Mikhalkov Category:Russian-language historical adventure films Category:Russian-language historical drama films Category:Russian-language adventure drama films Category:Russian-language war adventure films Category:Russian-language war drama films Category:2007 war films