The Inner Circle (1991)

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:

Numero Uno International

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 moment than Ivan Sunchin has a meeting with his NKVD (KGB) superiors in Moscow's "Revolutionary Square" Metro Station. Just before coming in to his superior bunker office, he is strolling along the station. The plan of Arbatsko - Pokrovskaya line is visible on a wall of the station . The plan consist of five or six transfers to other lines of the Moscow metro, which was current for Moscow metro circa early 1990s, not 1940s than movie plot set. In early 1940s Arbatsko - Pokrovskaya line had only two transfers to other lines, and metro plan looked different.

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)

Paranoia and naivete in societal insanity of Stalin's Russia

I decided to review this film because of its emotional impact.

Like "The Killing Fields," it creates tremendous tension in the viewer by portraying sympathetic, likable characters within an environment of tremendous evil.

The acting and cinematography are both excellent, making a direct connection with the feelings of every character.

My only criticism is very slight (I did rate it a 10, after all), but I wondered a bit at the persistance of Sanchin's naivete. While this is central to his character, I found it a little difficult to comprehend based on what he went through.