20 1994 October, the
Sergei Bondarchuk, an actor, screenwriter, and director, died in Moscow at the age of 75. He went down in cinema history as a master of battle scenes.
Shortly before his death, Bondarchuk was diagnosed with lung cancer. Doctors said there was a chance he would survive and that urgent surgery was necessary. However, instead of saving himself, the director flew to Italy to save his film, "And Quiet Flows the Don," which he had dreamed of making for almost 30 years.
The story of the film's creation about the rise of Soviet power in the Don region is full of tragic symbolism. Bondarchuk began seeking funding for the film during the perestroika era, but Goskino (State Cinematography) was not interested in the Oscar-winning director's project, which had received numerous awards.
It wasn't until the early 90s that the idea found support in the West. The film was financed with a bank loan, and English-speaking stars were cast in the lead roles.
The first day of shooting fell on 19 August 1991 year — the beginning of the coup in Moscow. In the morning, a group of actors and cameramen left for the Moscow region to film an exterior scene, but were unable to reach the set—the road was blocked by tanks.
Most of the scenes were filmed in Rostov region, It took 11 months.
When they began dubbing and editing, it suddenly became clear that the budget had already been exhausted. Some time later, the Italian producer declared bankruptcy, and the bank seized 160 meters of footage to pay debts.
Instead of seeking treatment, Bondarchuk tried to settle his financial issues through the courts. The Italian hospital proved beyond his means, and the director died of illness within just two months. He never saw the film's premiere: "And Quiet Flows the Don" was released only 12 years later.
At first, they tried to involve the Russian authorities in negotiations on returning the films to Russia. Boris Yeltsinthen - Vladimir PutinThe matter was only resolved after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi intervened. The price for which the draft material was purchased remains a trade secret.
The film was edited by the director's son. Fedor Bondarchuk, using his father's diary entries and work notes.
