The Dawns Here Are Quiet
| The Dawns Here Are Quiet (А зори здесь тихие) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Stanislav Rostotsky |
| Written by | Stanislav Rostotsky, Boris Vasilyev |
| Starring |
Yelena Drapeko Yekaterina Markova Olga Ostroumova Irina Shevchuk Irina Dolganova Andrey Martynov Lyudmila Zajtseva |
Production company | |
Release dates |
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Running time | 188 minutes |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Language | Russian |
The Dawns Here Are Quiet (Russian: А зори здесь тихие, translit. A zori zdes tikhie) is a 1972 Soviet film directed by Stanislav Rostotsky based on Boris Vasilyev's novel of the same name. The film was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
Plot
The film is set in Karelia (near Finland) in 1942 during World War II and was filmed near Ruskeala. Senior Sergeant Vaskov is stationed with a group of young female anti-aircraft gunners in a railway station far from the front line. Vaskov is not used to these gunners' active, playful personalities and therefore clashes with them over daily issues. But Vaskov, being the only man in the village, has to accommodate them in many cases.
One day, two German paratroopers appear in the forest nearby. Thinking that they may sabotage military facilities, Vaskov and five of the women attempt to stop the Germans. They pick a perfect defense position, only to find that there are sixteen paratroopers instead of two. Though outgunned and outnumbered, Vaskov decides to hold the Germans for as long as possible. He sends one of his female soldiers, Lisa Britschkina, out for reinforcements, but Lisa drowns in a muddy quicksand-like swamp while on her journey. Vaskov and the remaining four fight the Germans. All four women are killed in action. Vaskov is also seriously wounded and finds the drowned soldier's clothes near the swamp. The desperate Vaskov, armed only with knife, one-rounded Nagant and deactivated hand-grenade, attacks the cabin where the Germans are resting. The Germans are totally surprised and are either killed or captured. Meanwhile, reinforcements find Vaskov before he passes out.
Twenty years after the war ends, Vaskov visits the place again with the adopted son of one of the women.
Cast
- Andrey Martynov as Senior Sergeant Vaskov
- Yelena Drapeko as Lisa Britschkina
- Yekaterina Markova as Galya Chetvertak (as Ye. Markova)
- Olga Ostroumova as Zhenya Komelkova
- Irina Shevchuk as Rita Osyanina
- Irina Dolganova as Sonia Gurvich (as I. Dolganova)
- Lyudmila Zajtseva as Sergeant Kiryanova
- Alla Meshcheryakova as Maria Nikiforovna
Awards
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1972.[1]
DVD release
The 2004 Ruscico release includes a documentary, "Women's War". Interviewed are actresses Irina Shevchuk, Yelena Drapeko, and Yekaterina Markova.
Related media
- The book has been made into another Russian movie in 2015 directed by Renat Davletyarov
- This film had been re-made in Tamil as Peranmai, starring Jayam Ravi
- The book was filmed the Chinese TV series in 2005 directed by Mao Weining
See also
- List of submissions to the 45th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Soviet submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
- ↑ "The 45th Academy Awards (1973) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-11-30.