Kuprin passions in uniforms not in size "Lieutenant Romashov" is, gentlemen and ladies, a film adaptation of the classics. Or rather, Alexander Kuprin. More specifically, his story "Duel". And in this regard, I have to make a shameful confession - the original source I did not read. I cannot compare the film with the original.
Romashov is a film about the army. The great army of the great Empire, which in recent years is so actively celebrated in TV series and even full-length blockbusters. Only here we have a completely different army. Mushtra, drill, drill. "Knees together!" The real concept of duty is not to contradict the colonel. Open muzzle of privates. Almost no Russian speaking non-Christ. Estate arrogance of unseasonable officers.
Anyway, no idealism. And, please note, this is the view of a contemporary (Kuprin I mean), who, in my opinion, saw a more objective picture than our directors, so admired the Great Empire.
From the very first - the army - scenes began to catch the eye another feature. Everyone's uniforms, from privates to colonel, are new, clean, not grated. Not very well fitted. Stitched like a stream. Zhvanetsky recalls involuntarily: “The general staff in uniforms is not in size, and the announcer says that all Europe works for them.” And not that costumes are cheap. But you can see they're costumes. And they are not soldiers and officers of the Russian army, but actors and extras. Who play in the sets. It’s like I’m not in a movie, but a show.
The same applies to director-operator work: long takes, a static camera, close-ups. Lots of close-ups. In which become noticeable, for example, plastic buttons. Or a rounded cutting part of the saber instead of a sharp edge.
But it's nothing. Over time, plunging into the canvas of events, you begin to think: maybe the performance is right? It's Kuprin. And here it is important not to convey the historical authenticity of what is happening, but to show the drama, the intensity of emotions. After all, when we sit in the theater and see a storm of passions in the frame of plywood scenery, do we not admire the production? Admiring! And in this case, in Lieutenant Romashov, large static plans contribute to this. Especially when the actors play well.
And in the picture there was a whole galaxy of mater stars: Alexander Mikhailov, Bogdan Stupka, Georgy Shtil, Vladimir Gostyukhin. And many roles are almost episodic. Most striking is Elizabeth Boyarskaya, who appears literally for a few minutes, says a couple of meaningless remarks and disappears without a trace. The actress, rushing into the primas of the Russian screen and in such a role? I was wondering.
But all masters and young talents are overshadowed by one actor – Andrey Kharitonov, who plays an alcoholic officer-philosopher of Nazan. It plays a little, but it's so good! His scenes are all the more striking because the brain is unable to remember either his face or his surname. Who is he? Where else have you played before? A saving Google comes to the rescue. Alexander Kharitonov is a Gadge from the 1980 film of the same name! A young aristocratic face from the era of Soviet cinema is not at all associated with the drunken face of an officer. But the game is recognizable.
It is difficult to judge the performance of the main role Anatoly Prosalov. This is the first work of a young actor in a movie. I can say for sure that the image of Romashov created by him does not cause sympathy. No officer specializing in adultery, and, at the same time, consider himself good. It just doesn't do anything good. It only happens once in a while.
One of the authors of the script Igor Chernitsky called “Duel” a very modern work. I guess that's true. Too much echoes today. And the army. And the hopeless drunkenness of officers who do not see great goals in their existence. And numerous Shuroks, who need husbands as a springboard for the jump into the upper world. And the Romashovs are good, but weak people. Those who go with the flow, they try to rake against. But not for long.
It is not immediately possible to find out, but a small search on the Internet reveals the mystery of the strangeness of the film. "Lieutenant Romashov" is not a full-length movie, but a compilation. In 2006-2007, a 12-episode series "Junker" appeared. Of the last seven series, the full meter was first mounted, also called Junker. And in 2012, they mounted the full-length “Lieutenant Romashov” from the first five series. And that, ladies and gentlemen, explains almost everything. And costume uniforms, and scenery instead of realism. And Lisa Boyarskaya with the role of "eat served" - who she was back in 2006! It immediately becomes clear why the plot is so loose and protracted (the film lasts almost two and a half hours).
Maybe I'm being too strict. That's not what matters. What matters is what you leave the theater with. And after the final dialogue between Romashov and Shurochka and after the fight personally, I carried away from the cinema an irresistible desire to love. Not as an adult cut off by life, but with pain and tear. Hopeless. But not fading.
Strong desire. And who's more to blame? Kuprin or "Lieutenant Romashov"?