"They're sick of their homeland." Fedya. And Uncle Michelle, and Uncle Nicholas, and Uncle Thorson, are they so kind, are they sovereign enemies?
Nikifor Grigorievich. Enemies, Fedenka, not villains, they are sick with the Motherland.
In 1990, at the outset of the existence of the Soviet Union at the Sverdlovsk Film Studio, a two-part television film was created about the life in the Siberian exile of three members of the Northern Secret Society: Konstantin Petrovich Thorson and the Bestuzhev brothers, Nikolai and Mikhail Alexandrovich.
The television film has a strong script basis of one of the outstanding domestic screenwriters Vladimir Ivanovich Valutsky, screenwriter of many films by Vitaly Melnikov, Igor Maslennikov and later films by Stanislav Govorukhin. According to film critic Lyubov Arkus, Vladimir Valutsky "constantly trained in himself the muscle of professionalism, craft." And that is why he is one of the few who managed to adapt to the new time, to become the author of ambitious television projects. Suffice it to recall “Saboteur”, “Yesenin”, “Spy”, “Admiral”.
That’s the scenario of “No Alien Land” most likely the same example, the fruit of “scenario training”, in which the elaboration of historical material and the stylization of literature of the 19th century are felt. And, perhaps, the script is the strongest point of the TV movie, not marked by either bright directing, expressive camera work, or memorable acting work.
From Wikipedia: Konstantin Petrovich Thorson (September 27, 1793, St. Petersburg – December 4, 1851, Selenginsk) – lieutenant captain, aide-de-camp of the chief of the Naval Staff, circumnavigator, Decembrist. He participated in the Russian-Swedish War of 1808-1809. He became the first naval officer awarded for his participation in the Patriotic War of 1812. In 1819-1821 on the sloop "East" participated in the circumnavigation of F. F. Bellingshausen and M. P. Lazarev, which for the first time in history approached the ice shelves of Antarctica. Thorson named an island in the South Atlantic Ocean. After the Decembrist uprising, the island was renamed High. He worked on drafting projects related to shipbuilding, participated in the work of the commission on drawing up estimates for the construction of military vessels. Since December 15, 1824 - a full member of the Free Society of Lovers of Russian Literature.
The theme of “Decemberism” is almost not reflected in the domestic cinema. In the Russian Empire, the “Decembrists” were treated like lost freethinkers who broke the law. In the USSR, the image of the “Decembrists” was idealized to romantic fighters with the autocratic regime, but alien to the people. In the 20s, in the films Decembrists by Alexander Ivanovsky and S.V.D. by Georgy Kozintsev and Leonid Trauberg, the Decembrists appear, not surprisingly, as the first revolutionaries. In the most famous and almost canonical film “Star of captivating happiness”, the Decembrists appear as romantic intellectuals who suffered for their ideals. In the Russian Federation, it took almost thirty years before there was a feature film dedicated to the Decembrists.
From Wikipedia: Nikolai Alexandrovich Bestuzhev (April 13 (24), 1791, St. Petersburg - May 15 (27), 1855, Selenginsk) - lieutenant captain of the 8th naval crew, decembrist, naval historiographer, writer, critic, inventor, artist. In 1815 he participated in a sea voyage to Holland, in 1817 to France. In 1822 he organized lithography at the Admiralty Department, where in the spring of the same year he began to write the history of the Russian fleet. In 1824, on the frigate "Agile" as a historiographer, he sailed to France and Gibraltar. On December 12, 1824, he was promoted to lieutenant captain. Since July 1825 - Director of the Admiralty Museum, for which he received the nickname "Mummy" from friends. Since 1818 he collaborated with the almanac “Polar Star”, the magazines “Son of the Fatherland”, “Well-intentioned”, “Competitor of Education and Charity” and others. Since 1822 he has been a member of the Censorship Committee. Editor. Since 1825 - member of the Society for the Encouragement of Artists. Volunteer attended the classes of the Academy of Arts. Since September 12, 1825 - member of the Free Economic Society.
The television film No Alien Land presents the Decembrists in a slightly different context than in previous Soviet films. Most of the time the film is devoted to the image of Nikolai Alexandrovich Bestuzhev. And here he appears as one of the best representatives of the highly educated cultural society of the Russian Empire of the 19th century, which was the breeding ground for the emergence of such comprehensively developed personalities.
This very organically fit into the context of the perestroika late Soviet time of the late 80s of the last century, when Soviet society woke up from hibernation and was on the rise from the sweeping changes and rapid changes in the country, where honesty suddenly became a topical phenomenon again. The image of a decent decent man, righteous and active Nikolai Alexandrovich, was a suitable example for respect. Being in exile in the Buryat lands near Selenginsk, the brothers Bestuzhev and Konstantin Thorson managed to earn respect and authority among the local population, having done many useful things for the Buryat culture and life, continuing to engage in literature, painting and other research for the benefit of the Fatherland.
From Wikipedia: Mikhail Alexandrovich Bestuzhev (September 22 [October 4] 1800, St. Petersburg – June 21 [July 3] 1871, Moscow) – Staff Captain of the Life Guard of the Moscow Regiment, Decembrist, writer. In 1812 he entered the Naval Cadet Corps. On June 10, 1814, he was made a warden. From March 1, 1817 he was a midshipman, and from March 22, 1822 he was a lieutenant. On March 22, 1825 he was transferred to the Life Guards Moskovsky Regiment with the rank of lieutenant. On May 3, 1825, he was a staff captain. From 1817 to 1819 he served in Kronstadt. From 1819 to 1821 – in Arkhangelsk.
In modern Russia, after drawing attention to the topic of “Decemberism” by Andrei Kravchuk’s film “Union of Salvation” and the outbreak of household and public disputes, discussions, the TV film “No Alien Land” acquires a new relevance. On the example of the Siberian life of Konstantin Petrovich Thorson and the Bestuzhev brothers, Nikolai and Mikhail Alexandrovich members of the Northern Secret Society (after a failed speech on Senate Square in December 1825), certain conclusions can be drawn. The analysis of their life path in exile clearly shows that the Decembrists did not change their life principles and continued their comprehensive creative activity for the benefit of the Fatherland in practice, guided by the principles of respect and honest attitude to themselves and others, irreconcilable attitude to dishonesty and injustice, rooting for the Motherland.
My opinion is good.
7 out of 10