The Inner Circle (1991)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Andrei Konchalovsky

Writers (WGA):

Andrei Konchalovsky (written by) &
Anatoli Usov (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The true story of Ivan Sanchin, the KGB officer who was Stalin's private film projectionist from 1939 until the dictator's death...

Plot Keywords:

Projectionist | WWII | Josef Stalin | Socialism | 1930s

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Tom Hulce	...	Ivan Sanshin
Lolita Davidovich	...	Anastasia
Bob Hoskins	...	Beria
Aleksandr Zbruyev	...	Stalin
Feodor Chaliapin Jr.	...	Prof. Bartnev
Bess Meyer	...	Katya (16 years)
Mariya Baranova	...	Katya (10 years)
Irina Kupchenko	...	Directress
Vladimir Kuleshov	...	Colonel Schelkasov
Vsevolod Larionov	...	General Rumiantsev
Aleksandr Filippenko	...	Major Khitrov
Yevdokiya Germanova	...	Governess
Lyubov Matyushina	...	Sonia Gubelman
Aleksandr Garin	...	Vasily Morda
Mariya Vinogradova	...	Fedosia

Also Known As:

Ближний круг (Soviet Union: Russian title)
Blizhniy krug (Soviet Union: Russian title)
Il proiezionista (Italy)
The Projectionist (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

Italy | Soviet Union | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Peru:14 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Moscow, Russia

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

While in Russia, Tom Hulce met with Alexander Ganshin (upon whose life the film was based) to better learn what it was like to work for Stalin.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The movie covers the years 1939 to Stalin's death in 1953. However, it constantly refers to the KGB, an organization that did not come into existence until 1954. Until then the USSR security service was known by a variety of names, most notably the NKVD (Narodny Komisariat Vnutrennykh Del or People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs) between 1934 and 1943. It is this organization that Ivan would have joined in 1939. However, the sign on the NKVD headquarters in the film does read "NKVD" not "KGB". This refers only to foreign versions of movie, because in russian version names are correct. "NKVD" is used in early scenes and "MGB" in '50s.

Quotes:

Anastasia: Who do you love more, me or Comrade Stalin?
Ivan Sanshin: [without hesitation] Comrade Stalin, of course!

Movie Connections:

Features The Great Waltz (1938)

exceptional film

This is a very rare picture, in that Western films very, very rarely mention Stalin and even fewer feature him on film. It's funny because although several movies have been made about Hitler, films about Stalin (and Mao) are conspicuously absent. That is why I appreciated this film so much. Although Stalin was not the MAIN character in the movie, but his projectionist, it gave great insights into this monstrous man. What also is very interesting is how Hulce's character adores Staline, but over time he becomes more and more horrified of him--sort of like how the USSR viewed him over time as well.

The acting, direction and camera work are all excellent and there is really nothing negative I can say about the film. An unusual and important film historically.