Fate of a Man (1959)

A Soviet soldier, Andrei Sokolov, has been separated with his family by World War II. Suffering in Nazi captivity, he dreams of meeting his darlings after the victory. But cruel fate turned out otherwise.

Director:

Sergey Bondarchuk

Writers:

Yuriy Lukin (as Yu. Lukin), Fyodor Shakhmagonov (as F. Shakhmagonov)

Stars:

Sergey Bondarchuk, Pavel Boriskin, Zinaida Kirienko

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Sergey Bondarchuk	...	Andrei Sokolov
Pavel Boriskin	...	Vanja (as Pavlik Boriskin)
Zinaida Kirienko	...	Irina Sokolova
Pavel Volkov	...	Ivan Timofeyevich
Yuri Averin	...	Muller (as Yu. Averin)
Konstantin Alekseev	...	German Major
Pavel Vinnikov	...	Soviet Colonel
Evgeniy Teterin	...	Writer
Anatoli Chemodurov	...	Soviet Colonel
Lev Borisov	...	Platoon Commander
Georgi Shapovalov
Aleksandr Novikov	...	(as A. Novikov)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nikolai Aparin	...	Captive in the church (as N. Aparin)
Vyacheslav Beryozko	...	(as V. Beryozko)
Vladimir Ivanov	...	Inmate

Storyline

The story of a man (Andrey Sokolov) whose life was ruthlessly crippled by World War II. His wife and daughters were killed during the bombing of his village, he spent some time as a prisoner, and his only son was killed in action only a few days before the victory...

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Plot Keywords:

prisoner | driver | soldier | orphan | escape | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The Best Film in the poll of the magazine "Soviet Screen" in 1960.

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Goofs

When the lead character steals the Nazi car, in broad daylight, a owl echo sounds.

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Quotes

Sokolov: [Snaps to attention] Prisoner Sokolov reporting as ordered.
Muller: So four cubic meters is too much to quarry, eh?
Sokolov: It is, Commandant, far too much.
Muller: And you need only one cubic meter for your grave, right?
Sokolov: Yes, that's quite enough for a grave. Even there'd be room to spare.
Muller: I'm going to do you a great honor. I'll shoot you with my own pistol.
[Gesturing with his gun]
Muller: Let's go into the yard.
Sokolov: Whatever you say.
[Turns sharply about face]
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Pomnyu, lyublyu... (2000)

User Reviews

memorable Soviet war-drama

At first I thought this film would be the usual war film in total line with the politburo's view on The Great War. But after 15 minutes in the film, something changes. First we have a scene in which Sokolof (the main character played by director Bondarcuk)) comes home drunk - something I have never seen in an older Soviet movie, than the war breaks out and after a slightly over the top scene in which Sokolof says goodbye to his family all hell breaks loose. The scene where Sokolof drives his car filled with ammunition across the frontline is incredible, and this is only the beginning of the war. Although the story sometimes is quit melodramatic, the photography of the film is exceptional modern for a film made in 1959. In beautiful black and white the viewer witnesses the whole damn thing called war. The film is not as heartbreaking and in-your-face as Come And See by Klimov, but Klimov must have seen this film and used it as an inspiration. Russia lost 20 million people during the second world war (some because of Stalin) but what it meant for and how it changed the life of ordinary people is all to clear in this story. This man's fate as he calls it. Although the film, I suppose, is rare, see it if you ever have a chance.

Details

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian German

Release Date:

12 April 1959 (Soviet Union)

Also Known As:

Fate of a Man

Filming Locations:

Mosfilm Studios, Moscow, Russia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mosfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1