20 steps to the border The film is visually colored, and according to internal sensations - black white, because it is clearly divided into bright, rich, emotional scenes (white) and unsuccessful, causing internal rejection (black). Most Soviet films about border guards are shot according to a certain pattern: the first third is the audience’s acquaintance with the outpost and with the main characters. The middle is an increase in intrigue by showing a positive or negative action of one of the characters. The finale is a mandatory fight with the offender for such paintings. Who periodically watches films of this orientation, he could notice one amazing feature: with a very, very good beginning and middle, the finale is often frankly weak, “failing” the final opinion about the picture.
I do not know for what reason stories, stories, novels about border guards are read “overwhelmingly”, but film incarnations leave much to be desired. The film “Where the Edelweiss Blossoms” has no literary basis. The script was written by debutant Sergey Martyanov and Honored Artist of the Kazakh SSR Efim Aron. Neither one nor the other had anything to do with the border, and they wrote the script as they would write it about life in a collective farm or the construction of a hydroelectric power station. The issue of border protection is very specific. You need to know not only what is outside: the tower, the control strip, but also what is not conspicuous, but is the internal basis of service at the border. But in my opinion, the directors showed not so much a drama about border guards as a melodrama on the topic: “What different faces here.”
From the first minutes of viewing, the behavior of the wife of the head of the border post Vera (Lily Sharapova) is surprising. Either Peter Solovyov (Valery Kosenkov), as the head of the outpost, did not conduct the necessary "instruction", or his wife does not recognize any framework, but the scene at the shooting range looks very strange. Then more. The husband did not deign to devote his wife to the history of the border post, which killed his father and mother! It doesn’t seem like a “continuity of generations.” This one stroke does not add positive features to the hero. In the film there is a character on which the creators of the film “hung all the dogs” is Albert Pushkarev performed by Valery Nosik. Nosik’s appearance is textured, memorable, probably, so the directors decided to make him a “beating boy”?
It is clear that on the border, as in any other kind of troops, come completely different conscripts. Each has both advantages and disadvantages. But for some reason, it is Pushkarev’s shortcomings “above the roof”, but the writers forgot to award him with advantages. It seems as if all the negative features of the whole outpost were absorbed by one person! It doesn't happen. Therefore, the writers introduce a hero into the plot, who is opposed to Pushkarev in everything: from inner qualities to attitude to service and to women. At the same time, they completely forget that a conscript soldier does not have weekends. This is ridiculous! Dismissal - yes, but not a day off!
The finale, to be honest, just killed. Of course, I assumed that when it comes down to business, the director will certainly throw out some trout. But I didn't think that the "fortel" would be like that! Once again, the offenders (once again!) were openly disappointed: stupid fuss, excessive running. The filmmakers forgot that the epilogue is the culmination of the film. It should be bright, spectacular, and memorable. The director has the right to invent what he wants, but the scene of detention should be filmed so that the viewer exclaims: “Good job, guys!” And here? The film is visually very beautiful, and this is the merit of Abiltai Kasteev - beautiful summer and winter panoramic shooting. In addition, excellent episodes with the participation of Lyubov Kalyuzhna (the widow of the border guard Aunt Dusia), and Galina Chiginskaya (correspondent Varvar Makarov). They decorated the film with their characters, which can not be said about the main characters.
P.S. One of the legends about the flower of love Edelweisse says: There was a beautiful princess in the world. She was very proud and vain. The princess decided to marry only the brave man who will conquer the steep cliffs and get a proud flower - Edelweiss. Many young men died trying to get a rarity. Many years later, a young man appeared, to whom the rocks obeyed, and he plucked a flower. The princess gladly said “Yes!” but she was late – over the years her beauty faded, and she turned into an old woman. The young man laughed and went his own way. Since then, many young people follow the legend and try to give their brides an edelweiss. But in most countries it is impossible to pick it, so the edelweiss is given as an ornament in the form of an artificial flower.