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Comparison of Russian films on the Stalin period. (1) The movie Burnt by the Sun was released in 1994. Films director Nikita Mikhalkov is known throughout the Russia for his active political stance, as well as for his artistic work. Burnt by the Sun takes place in a rural Russia in 1936, where revolutionary hero Sergei Kotov (played by Mikhalkov himself) spends some leisurely time with his family. Their idyllic existence is interrupted by a stranger, who is later revealed as Dimitri an old friend of Kotov, who had been missing for a few years. Dimitri plays with Kotov's young daughter and acts in very friendly manner. However, he is on NKVD mission to arrest Kotov, which he does at the end with frightening efficiency, when his victim actually assists Dimitri in sealing up his own fate.
Kotov is hoping that his fame as legendary figure in Red Army will prevent Stalin from accusing him of being a spy, but as movie nears the ends, we realize that Kotov has fallen victim to his own political naivety. Movie is based on once popular idea that Stalin's purges were totally irrational. The year 1937 is commonly referred to as the peak of terror. However, this is only because in 1937 Stalin began liquidating high ranking Communist leaders that he no longer needed. This is why we hear so much about it. Still, the fact is that Stalin's reign of terror continued on from the beginning of thirtieths to his death in 1953.
In 1933, he organized an artificial famine in Ukraine, which resulted in 10 million people dead, by most careful estimates. We do not get to hear a lot about it, because the fact that 95 % of Soviet officials, responsible for Ukrainian Holocaust, were Jews. In 1937, Stalin turned against old Communists, who were overwhelmingly the representatives of chosen people, this is why Stalin is mostly blamed for 1937, while genocide campaigns against other nations, organized by him, are now largely forgotten. In his movie, Mikhalkov clearly pursues a political agenda. He wanted to show Stalin's terror as a result of his paranoia, which caused him to suspect people in spying and sabotage, even from his own inner circle.
However, as more and more archive documents become available to the public, people begin to realize that there were many real attempts to overthrow Stalin, on the part of Soviet elite, at the time. This is why movies depiction of Stalin's terror, as being unmotivated, is wrong. It is commonly assumed that Stalin's purge of 1937 had deprived Red Army of many talented officers, which negatively affected its effectiveness. This is also far from the truth. In Soviet Union, it was a common practice for NKVD officials to also hold a military rank, but it does not mean that many generals, who were being liquidated, during the purge, actually did serve in the army.
Burnt by the Sun is a historical movie, but we cannot refer to it as being fully objective. Stalin was a tyrant; nevertheless, he knew exactly what he was doing. This is why suggesting that he was just a paranoiac who used to take pleasure in killing his closest associates, is inappropriate. Apart from historical faults, Burnt by the Sun also suffers from the fact that it is a very boring movie, especially its first part. The numerous conversations between the characters are absolutely deprived of any sense.
Mikhalkov's movie can be recommended for watching as semi-historical thriller. However, under no circumstances can we refer to it as historical account of what actually did happen. (2) The Inner Circle by director Andrei Konchalovsky was being released in 1991. Movie is based on real story of Stalin's projectionist, whose closeness to the the greatest genius of all times, allowed him to witness moral depravity within a circle of Stalin's closest henchmen. This is where movies name derives from. Ivan Sanshin was being hired to operate a movie projector for Stalin once. After this, he was given a permanent job in Kremlin, along with the rank of NKVD officer.
This allowed Sanshin to become a member of Soviet political elite within a very short time. At the same time, in order to keep the job, Sanshin had to change his character. From being honest and optimistic, he turned into a cynic who began to suspect his own wife in trying to undermine his political career. He would not do anything when she gets raped by a high Party official, in front of his eyes, because he is afraid of being accused as too soft. The Inner Circle stands out for its high cinematographic quality.
We can refer to it as real historical movie, in American sense of this word, because is it filled with action and because movies plot is easy to follow. Partially, this is due to the fact that The Inner Circle is actually American, Russian and Italian production. There are no lengthy philosophical monologues can be found in it, as it is the case with Mikhalkov's movie. The value of The Inner Circle lays in the fact that Konchalovsky was able to portray the true essence of totalitarianism.
The most frightening thing about it is that we all carry the subconscious desire to obey a charismatic leader deep within. It is very easy for us to relate to the character of Sanshin, because his hopes and anxieties are absolutely normal, yet he found it morally acceptable to become a member of Stalin's inner circle. The Inner Circle is much more objective, comparing to Burnt by the Sun, but it is not only because it is based on real story. Konchalovsky was able to avoid polarization of his movie; this is why it became popular with American audience. Another factor, which added to movies popularity, is that it has been filmed in English.
The Inner Circle is also more historically accurate, because it portrays Stalin as man of logic, rather than a psychopath. Konchalovsky was able to make a good philosophical point in his movie, without having to indulge in moralizing. The Inner Circle is both: informative and captivating, which are the usual features of any great movie.
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Research essay sample on Comparison Of Russian Films On The Stalin Period
