Yuri Belyaev Movies
- 2000
Aleksandr Proshkin directs this historic epic, which is full of complex intrigue, doomed lovers, and shots of the icy Russian landscape. Drawing from two of Alexandr Pushkin's most beloved works, The Captain's Daughter and A History of Pugachev, the film opens with young cadet Pyotr Grinyov (Mateusz Damiecki) trekking off to his remote compound after Empress Catherine II (Olga Antonova) has her husband Peter killed. On the rookie soldier's journey, he lends his fur coat to runaway Emelian Pugachev (Vladimir Mashkov), who soon believes that young Pyotr is in fact Tsar Peter III. Later at the fortress, Pyotr finds himself competing with his fellow soldiers for the attention of Masha (Karolina Gruszka), the gorgeous daughter of the fort's commanding officer, while Pugachev masses rebel forces against the fort. This film was screened at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vladimir Mashkov
- 1994
In this ironic Russian drama, a man's thoughts of revenge turn to thoughts of reconciliation as he comes to know his intended victim a little better. The story is set in contemporary Russia following the destruction of the Communist regime. Nikolai is a slightly shady but successful businessman; he and his brand new wife are happily honeymooning on a train when he suddenly recognizes the sleeping car attendant as Oleg, the judge who gave him seven years for black-market trading during the Soviet era. The still angry Nikolai immediately begins plotting revenge against Oleg. He first feigns friendship with Oleg and ends up renting a room in the ex-judge's house. Then he gets Oleg a part-time job at one of his warehouses. Once Oleg trusts him, Nikolai has the town tart crawl into the older man's bed so that his wife will find Oleg in a compromising position. The ploy works and she leaves him. Later Nikolai plans to have Oleg take the fall for a warehouse robbery. But no matter what he does, Oleg is happy and when he finally recognizes Nikolai, he explains his reasons for having to send him to prison even though he did not want to. Nikolai slowly begins to respect the judge and then changes his mind about having his ex-cell mate kill Oleg. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sergei Makovetsky, Igor Livanov, (more)
- 1991
By 1922, the bloom was off the rose of the Bolshevik Revolution, and people were adjusting to food and housing shortages and ever-increasing poverty. In a symbolically parallel development, a young man has optimistically married an extremely beautiful woman, filled with dreams of happily-ever-after. Instead, she almost immediately beds his best friend and then becomes a high-class prostitute while he looks on helplessly. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Andrei Ilyin, (more)
- 1991
Malcolm McDowell, with shock-white hair and a death-mask visage, delivers a powerful and intense performance in this British/Russian co-production, directed by Karen Shakhnazarov -- and also starring popular Russian actor Oleg Yankovsky. McDowell plays a schizophrenic patient in a Russian hospital named Timofeyev who is convinced that he was Yakov Yurovsky, the man who executed Tsar Nicholas II and the royal family during the Russian Revolution in 1918. Timofeyev tries to convince the doctors that he is cured of his delusions, but a new doctor, Smirnov (Oleg Yankovsky), thinks that there is something hidden beneath the surface of Timofeyev's delusions that has yet to be revealed. Smironov becomes as obsessive as Timofeyev in attempting to uncover the truth of the assassination. When Smironov travels to Sverdlovsk, where the Tsar was killed in 1918, he and Timofeyev both proceed to re-live the tragic murders. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Malcolm McDowell, Oleg Yankovsky, (more)
- 1988
Loyalty is an odd thing which, once earned, is not readily discarded. In this late Soviet-era Russian drama, Andrei Gudionov (Oleg Borisov), was once a powerful man. During his heyday, he had impressed into his service as a driver the talented young musician Pavel Kljuev (Yuri Beljaev). As his driver, Kljuev was required to demonstrate unquestioning loyalty to him, despite any unorthodox goings-on he might observe. Gudionov has long since retired, but seeks out his former driver (now a famous conductor) to help him in settling an old score. Despite their changed circumstances and the risks involved, Kljuev feels compelled to help him out. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yuri Belyaev, Oleg Borisov, (more)
