The Dawns Here are Quiet (1972)
"A zori zdes tikhie" (original title)

Based on the eponymous book by Boris Vasilyev, the film is set in Karelia (North-West of Russia, near Finland) in 1941 during WWII. In a beautiful and quiet wilderness far from the ... See full summary »

Director:

Stanislav Rostotsky

Writers:

Stanislav Rostotsky, Boris Vasilev

Stars:

Elena Drapeko, Ekaterina Markova, Olga Ostroumova

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elena Drapeko	...	Lisa Britschkina
Ekaterina Markova	...	Galja Chetvertak (as Ye. Markova)
Olga Ostroumova	...	Zhenja Komelkowa
Irina Shevchuk	...	Rita Osjanina
Irina Dolganova	...	Sonia Gurvich (as I. Dolganova)
Andrey Martynov	...	Vaskov
Lyudmila Zaytseva	...	Sergeant Kirjanowa
Alla Meshcheryakova	...	Maria Nikiforovna
Aleksey Chernov
Viktor Avdyushko
Yuriy Sorokin
Vladimir Ivashov	...	Brichkins' Guest
Nina Emelyanova	...	(as N. Emelyanova)
Kirill Stolyarov	...	Sergei
Boris Tokarev	...	Rita's husband

Storyline

Based on the eponymous book by Boris Vasilyev, the film is set in Karelia (North-West of Russia, near Finland) in 1941 during WWII. In a beautiful and quiet wilderness far from the front-line there is an anti-aircraft artillery point, where corporal Vaskov is stationed with a group of many young women in training. One of the women while sneaking from camp to visit her young son sees two German paratroopers. Vaskov takes five of the women to stop the two paratroopers, but finds sixteen paratroopers instead, leaving the small group of patriots to engage the enemy in an unequal fight.

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Plot Keywords:

swamp | forest | world war two | soviet army | soviet union | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian German

Release Date:

1972 (Soviet Union)

Also Known As:

The Dawns Here are Quiet

Filming Locations:

Karelia, Russia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gorky Film Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

188 min 158 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of A zori zdes tikhie (1970)

User Reviews

Very Russian, very true

"In reality 4-5 unexperienced women and one man (even if he is a genial soldier) would have no chance again 16 Gebirgsjäger."

I very well understand how an implausible script could kill the effort of a good director and fabulous actors. I understand equally well that some would dismiss this film as mostly Soviet propaganda simply because the story of German paratroopers meeting serious resistance from just a few inexperienced girls does not ring true. Well, strangely enough, the film (and the novel) are fact-based. Of course, this is not a documentary and, according to Boris Vasiliev, there were no women in the actual group of militia men stopping 16 Gebirgsjäger on a mission to cause serious discruption to the Murmansk railway. But otherwise the story was true! For me, swapping old militia men and wounded soldiers for young girls is perfectly excusable.

Very touching and very Russian.