The film "White Sun of the Desert": why it is so loved by astronauts, review and facts

That's today. "White Sun of the Desert." - a gem of the golden fund of Soviet cinema. However, when this film was first released, its success was hard to envy: if you believe a 1970 poll, less than 10% domestic viewers appreciated the picture at face value, calling it one of the best of the last year. Although there was a lot of noise around this film - and even in the West. You bet: the first in the history of the USSR istern - or "red western", as the Americans nicknamed it. At that time, foreign films about the Wild West and its heroes in cowboy boots were very popular behind the Iron Curtain, and so it was decided to take a risk and make a masterpiece in this spirit. But nobody wanted to film it - all the directors were afraid of "falling in the mud". Their careers and reputations were at stake.....

Actually, Vladimir Motyl The director did not want to take on this unlikely project either - he was just successfully "pressurised". In the end, the director regretted his decision a thousand times over....

How Red Army soldier Sukhov became a guardian angel for Soviet cosmonauts: review by FUZZ MUSIC

Considering that "White Sun of the Desert" was something completely new to the USSR - very a risky experiment - The final result of this work is astonishing. The director managed to make not just "something like a western", but to present the viewer with a completely unique story. The film's characters, such as Sukhov and Vereshchaginhave become real popular favourites, and their lines (one only "Gulchatai, open your face!" for what it's worth) turned into winged phrases that are still in common use today.

At first, the film did not resonate, but over time its weight and importance grew steadily. In many ways, the film's success was fuelled by domestic astronautsfor whom for more than half a century "White Sun of the Desert" is not just a favourite movie, but a symbol of good luck! In 1971 a tragedy happened: the crew of the ship "Soyuz-11", consisting of 3 people, tragically died... In the next flight "Soyuz-12" sent only 2 pilots - "White Sun of the Desert". Lazareva and Makarova. Before the launch, they wished to see Motyl's creation and, fortunately, their space expedition went off without a loss! They even joked that they felt Sukhov's presence as the third crew member. From then on, watching "White Sun of the Desert" became an indispensable ritual for good luck, which has accompanied the Russian cosmonauts ever since.

Film bloopers as a pattern

Film bloopers It has long been a pattern, and one can understand it: when filming is carried out in, to put it mildly, exotic and, at the same time, tense surroundings, it is difficult to keep track of the perfection of every frame. So it happened with "White Sun of the Desert". The most striking film blunder is connected with the scene where Vereshchagin's wife Nastasia runs to the water: the woman has short boots on her feet, but the next moment she is barefoot. Mystical...

Another glaring film gaffe is the episode warp: Katerina Matveyevna carries buckets that are practically empty, but a few moments later we see water almost splashing from the edges! The moment when Sukhov's wife crosses the river and picks up the hem of her skirt is also a film gaffe. Considering that she is carrying two full buckets, this action seems impossible... By the way: the scene fell under the harsh criticism of the censorsthat forced the director to make it "less explicit."

"The legs must be covered! How vulgar..."

How Brezhnev saved the film

This film turned out to be the real deal for Motyl curseThe director had to reshoot dozens of scenes, make a hundred edits, and the final result still did not satisfy the censors. Rumours began to circulate, allegedly the picture want to transfer to another director, but to whom? All denied isterna, realising that if they failed - on their careers simply put a cross. In the end, the film at all wanted to put in the shelf, but understanding that the budget was spent a lot, it was decided to allocate more funds from the reserve and complete the tape. In the spirit: "Be that as it may."!

Albeit under great pressure, but filming was completed. And again the refusal - then the director finally lost his nerve. It is said that Motyl was already ready to the fact that this film will end his career, but "White Sun of the Desert" was shown Brezhnev and the latter gave the order to put the western into distribution. Leonid Ilyich was aware of the popularity of American westerns, and having seen his native - domestic masterpiece in a similar spirit - decided that it should become the property of the USSR and a proud response to the West. Not immediately, but eventually it did.

Fighting for reputation, or misinformation of the state committee

More than 10 years later, the shadow of "White Sun of the Desert" again fell on Motyl: in the 80's Vladimir Yakovlevicha began to accuse that during the shooting of the film he allegedly the other directors helpedand that he himself was incapable of doing anything worthwhile. What is most offensive - such a cruel slander came from the side of his own colleagues! But Motyl was not so easy to break: he decided to give a tough and confident response to his enemies.

To prove his rightness and innocence, the director collected evidence in writing - answers to questions provided by the film crew and actors. Motyl sent this evidence to the chairman of the Union of Cinematographers with a request to bring the gossipers to justice. In the end, it turned out that the dirty rumours were spread by Filipp Ermash! Vladimir Yakovlevich has regained his reputation and name, which can not be said about Ermash, to whom many people began to treat very prejudiced after the incident ...