"Burnt by the Sun" is a 1994 Soviet-French historical drama directed by Mikhalkov Nikita, made with French participation. The leading roles were played by Nikita Mikhalkov (Divisional Commander Kotov), Oleg Menshikov, and Ingeborga Dapkunaite. The film tells the story of a celebrated Soviet commander and his family on a single summer day in 1936, on the threshold of the Stalinist repressions. The key outdoor scenes were filmed in Nizhny Novgorod Region: in Zelenyy Town and near Kstovo.[1][2]
About the film
The action unfolds at the dacha of Divisional Commander Kotov, where a quiet family vacation is interrupted by the unexpected visit of a man from the past. Behind the outward calm of the summer day lies the inexorable approach of tragedy. The screenplay was written by Nikita Mikhalkov in collaboration with Rustam Ibragimbekov. The leading roles are played by Nikita Mikhalkov, Oleg Menshikov, and Ingeborga Dapkunaite; the role of Kotov's daughter was played by Nadezhda Mikhalkova.[3]
Filming in Nizhny Novgorod Region
The outdoor filming of the first film took place in the autumn of 1993 at two locations in Nizhny Novgorod Region.[1]
- Zelenyy Town. The Kotov family's dacha was filmed in Zelenyy Town, on the bank of the Kudma River. According to AiF-NN, at the time of filming the dacha was occupied by the Mayor of Nizhny Novgorod, Dmitry Bednyakov; the Kino Mail source names the owner as Dmitry Berdnikov — the Bednyakov version should be considered correct.[2][1]
- Environs of Kstovo. The countryside landscapes, dacha episodes, and shots on the river were filmed near Kstovo. The unhurried provincial scenery conveyed a sense of coziness on the eve of the looming catastrophe.[1]
Release and reception
The film was released in 1994 and was awarded the Academy Award by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as well as the Grand Prix of the Cannes Film Festival.[1][2] The success of the picture prompted Mikhalkov to make a sequel — the duology "Burnt by the Sun 2: Exodus" (filming began in 2005) and "Burnt by the Sun 2: The Citadel", whose location scenes were also shot in Nizhny Novgorod Region — in Pavlovsky District, in the village of Polyany and near the village of Nizkovo.[1][2]
Sources
- kino.mail.ru — Where the "Burnt by the Sun" trilogy was filmed: in which towns and locations the key scenes were shot (archive)
- news.mail.ru — Where filmmakers like to shoot in Central Russia
- biograph.online — Nikita Mikhalkov: biography, personal life, photos, and films of the director
- Nizhny Novgorod News Agency — Nizhny Novgorod theater and film actor Ivan Skitsan has died. Nizhny Novgorod News