Neutral castling The film “Castling in the Long Side” was released on the screens of the country back in 1969 – during the Cold War. We can say that this film is a product of that era, the era of the arms race, ideological disputes and sabotage, which became the main components in the contradictions and confrontation of the two world systems - socialist and capitalist.
And now specifically about the movie "Castling in the long side."
Despite a good selection of actors, the beauty of the construction of individual scenes and paintings, and a very good musical design, the film, I think, as a whole failed. Probably, therefore, he did not gain some great popular love and recognition, did not become an icon of a political detective, as, for example, published a year before, “Dead Season” or an encyclopedia of spy life about the fate and error of the resident.
Let's start with the plot. In the West German Heidelberg University on some international program works Soviet scientist-biologist Boris Lebedev. He's not a genius, he's not a Nobel laureate, he's not a brilliant scientist, but he's been relentlessly recruited by Western intelligence. Recruiting, using various tricks and technical innovations - audio recording, video recording, and even in infrared light. He recruits very actively, and playing on the feelings of a young scientist who arose at the same Heidelberg University - the love between our biologist and the German Slavic student Sonia Sterz. That is, two storylines - spy and love close in one, as it often happens in such stories. All this recruitment takes up a good half of the screen time of the film and is rather stretched and tedious in its content. This stretching is, in my opinion, the cornerstone of not perceiving the film as action-packed; moreover, it turns into a boring, sluggish politicized film.
I would not like to dwell on the mistakes of the filmmakers for a long time, but I can not say more about the final meeting of the recruited agent Lebedev and Brooks in the middle of the ocean. I think it's on the verge of parody. Why this was filmed at all is unclear. Apparently, to enhance the effect of “spy cinema”. We had to show them how long our arms were and how they reached Brooks. Yeah, he's such a fool that he climbed into a meeting under radar and other ships on a sortie! Bravo!
The acting ensemble is well selected. Algimantas Masiulis in his usual “spy-negative Gestapo” place (how many he played such roles during his creative life!), if I may say so, in the role of Brooks looks very worthy – the role, undoubtedly, he succeeded! You see, you see, a man is in his place!
I liked Alexander Demyanenko’s play as a young scientist less, although I must say that he coped well with his role as a shy scientist, forced to defend himself in an emergency situation, as and as only possible. I must say that the first time I watched this film quite late, and I, of course, at the sight of Demyanenko, was haunted by the image of Shurik from Operation Y, The Caucasian Prisoner and Ivan Vasilyevich Changing His Occupation. But nothing, as I said, was successful.
Not bad played Sonya actress Irina Vavilova. In any case, I did not notice the overkill that is often seen when domestic actors play the role of foreigners. But the role of Pavel Luspekaev seemed to me a bit small for an actor like him. It is well played, but as they say, “the chain mail is good, but small.”
What good is there to see in this movie, why is it possible to watch it?
First, there is an opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of the late 60s of the last century. And in the atmosphere that reigned then in the youth student environment of Western countries, in this case - West Germany. The desire for change, the calls for change in the life of society – all this is illustrated by the example of the meeting in Khorenbach Castle. Very interesting, although it was a long time ago.
Secondly, there is an opportunity to visit the German national holiday fasching (like our Shrovet). In this regard, "Castling" turned out to be indicative - it became not only a spy picture, but also educational in terms of showing the customs of the same Germans.
The film was made a long time ago, more than half a century ago. Of course, during the ideological war between the systems, the director showed everything that was not and should not have been then in our country – promiscuity, drunkenness in bars and the use (almost openly) of drugs. But at the same time, this can also be regarded as a warning to the socialist system – look how bad it is under capitalism, how immoral it is. Alas! We did not heed this warning by castling in the direction of capitalism.
I wouldn’t call this film a failure, but you can’t include it among the outstanding ones either, so the attitude towards it is somewhat neutral. Very beautiful and memorable name, and very mediocre content of the picture. My average rating is only for the cool acting.
5 out of 10