The series "It all began in Harbin": the actors gave the tragedy of the past years

Many times in the Russian cinema, the theme of victims of Stalinism was discussed. But still this story - the series "It all began in Harbin", whose actors, thanks to their talent, carefully recreated the atmosphere of that time - stands apart, deserving close attention of viewers. Firstly, the film captures a fairly interesting and almost unexplored in the cinema period of history - 20-30-ies of the twentieth century in Harbin. Secondly, the film accurately and correctly recreated the atmosphere of those years, it was shot qualitatively. Thirdly, there is a magnificent actor's work as the main characters, and the characters of the second plan. The film "It all began in Harbin" (director Leonid Zisman, screenwriter Eduard Volodarsky) accurately conveyed the tragedy of this difficult time. Then absolutely no one was immune from execution and prison.

The plot line of the picture

The film "It all began in Harbin", the actors who got used to playing their roles with great enthusiasm during the filming, the team filmed based on the real events that took place in the period from 1928 to 1953. Then Soviet-era servicemen lived and worked on the Sino-East Railway in Manchuria, among them the family of the railway worker dispatcher Nikolai Petrovich Abozhenko: his wife and two sons (Boris and Vladimir). The head of the family is sure that, since he is an ordinary employee on the railway, he is very far from politics. But the situation developed in such a way that after some events he lost not only his job, but also the trusting relations of his compatriots. He, his wife and children become outcasts ...

Home or abroad?

After the Soviet government sold the railroad, Nikolai Petrovich was faced with a choice: emigration to the United Kingdom or the United States, or return to the USSR. The family returns to their homeland, but instead of the promised happy years of life, the former Harbin people were "given" terms in the camps.

In parallel with the narrative of historical events, the audience can observe a touching love story between Borei Ebozhenko and Lyuda Erzhanova (daughter of the former railway chief), which is full of pain and drama. The actors of the film "It All Started in Harbin" - Danila Kozlovsky and Anna Chipovskaya - showed that young people (their characters) were able to endure all their sorrows, difficulties, long separation, but they still stayed together.

Boris and Lyudmila

Danila Kozlovsky, who played Borya, was able to transfer the inner transformation of his character remarkably. In the first series, viewers see him as a young man who sincerely believes in every ideal of socialism. He loves his homeland, believes in the imminent arrival of a bright future and hates the former White Guards who live in Harbin. For him there are only two colors: white and black. It is in Harbin that Boris gets to know Lyuda Erzhanova, and their love will warm them all their lives.

About her character Lyuda, actress Anna Chipovskaya says with a degree of admiration, because her character - a complex man, not having one-sided. At the beginning of the series, Lyudmila can be seen as a windy girl who likes to turn heads to young people. But the events going on below show that she is capable of great love and self-sacrifice.

Volodya and Matryona Ivanovna

In the series "It all began in Harbin" actors and roles, they played, perfectly reflected the reality of that period of time. Some of them are Philip Ershov, who played Volodya Eybozhenko, Boris's younger brother, and Dina Korzun, who played the mother of the boys, Matryona Ivanovna.

Volodya is the most distant from politics. He is fond of music only, he serves her faithfully. Music for him outshines everything else. Unfortunately, at that time one can not be out of politics, that's why this young fellow shared the sad fate of the other "Harbintz" people. And since he is a weak man and unadapted to life, his only save and support is his elder brother.

Matryona Ivanovna devoted her whole life to her family - children and her husband. This is a typical Russian woman - a very calm, quiet, loving and caring mother, a faithful wife.

Nikolay Eybozhenko and Valentin Krakhmalnikov

In the series "It all began in Harbin" the actors showed the hopelessness of the whole situation, because whatever way they chose in life, the result would still be sad or even tragic.

Senior Eybozhenko (actor Igor Ivanov) for many years worked as a railway dispatcher. He loves his work, he is a real hard worker. After the Chinese authorities arrested the railway employees, he agrees to continue his work. He does not consider this a betrayal of the Motherland, because the road must function. But the Soviet authorities decided differently. But even if he refused to work at that time, it is unlikely that his fate would be not so terrible.

Valentin Vitalievich Krakhmalnikov, played by Vladimir Epifantsev, according to the plot of the film in the past, a surgeon. But by chance, he comes to work in the OGPU. He is a tough, even cruel person. Starches are able to operate with methods that Chekists of that time used. Then he himself was grinded by the millstones of Stalin's machine ...

Shooting pictures

The entire filming process took place in St. Petersburg and its environs. The series "It all began in Harbin", actors Who made a lot of efforts to play truthfully, was born here. Initially, it was the idea to shoot in Harbin, but over the years the city has undergone tremendous changes, has become quite modern, unlike the one that was in the 20-30s of the last century. And in the northern capital of Russia they found the necessary nature, because it was thanks to Russian engineers that Harbin was the way it was then. In the process of filming, the Harbin streets were reconstructed in the most careful way using the old photographs. In the shot came Peterhof, Zelenogorsk, Kronstadt. We also took pictures in the Gulf of Finland.

Actors and the role of the series "It all began in Harbin" beautifully reflected the whole atmosphere of that time and human relationships.

Retro-cars for filming were provided by Lenfilm and private collectors. In the crowd were filmed real Chinese - students "Shivers".