One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (1970)

Ivan Denisonvich (Tom Courtenay) is a Russian World War II hero captured by the Germans. Upon his return to Russia after the war, and during the Stalinist regime, he is sentenced to 10 ... See full synopsis »

Director:

Casper Wrede (as Caspar Wrede)

Writers:

Ronald Harwood, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (novel)

Stars:

Tom Courtenay, Espen Skjønberg, Alf Malland

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Tom Courtenay	...	Ivan Denisovich
Espen Skjønberg	...	Tiurin
Alf Malland	...	Fetiukov
Frimann Falck Clausen	...	Senka
Jo Skønberg	...	Gopchik
Odd Jan Sandsdalen	...	Eino
Torstein Rustdal	...	Vaino
James Maxwell	...	Captain
Alfred Burke	...	Alyosha
Eric Thompson	...	Tsetzar
John Cording	...	Pavlo
Matthew Guinness	...	Kilgas
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roy Bjørnstad
Paul Connell
Sverre Hansen

Storyline

Ivan Denisonvich (Tom Courtenay) is a Russian World War II hero captured by the Germans. Upon his return to Russia after the war, and during the Stalinist regime, he is sentenced to 10 years at hard labor in Siberia for being captured. The film shows one day in his life in the prison camp.

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Plot Keywords:

gulag | prisoner | prison | punishment | working | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK Norway

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 1970 (Norway)

Also Known As:

En dag i Ivan Denisovitsj' liv

Filming Locations:

Røros, Norway

Company Credits

Production Co:

Leontes, Group W, Norsk Film

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Quotes

[Ivan is told the Communist Party has decreed the sun reaches zenith one hour after noon.]
Ivan Denisovich: Can they even tell the sun what to do?

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Connections

Remake of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre: One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (1963)

User Reviews

It was just another day

This is not a review (as such) about Ivan Denisovich, more a counter to the comments made by a previous reviewer. I find it unbelievable that Mr. Dabell could complain about the film being boring with, as he puts it, "sparse stretches with barely any dialogue and barely any events begin to tire the viewer." What did Mr Dabell expect? A series of comic sketches, interspersed with some witty banter as the inmates hopped and skipped their way through the snow to their place of work? I saw the film back in the 70s and have not seen it since. It made such an impact on me that I have never forgotten it; I have tried to get a copy for many years, alas without success. I do remember the feeling of utter hopelessness, of futility coming through in the film. Feelings that I'm sure were felt by the actual inmates of such prisons back in those days. Escape was impossible. Where to? Certain death obviously, so any talk of digging tunnels, forging papers and planning escape routes (a la The Great Escape) were a complete waste of time. The film was true to the book and (what's more important in my eyes) true to the spirit of the times about which the book was written. If Mr Dabell found the film boring, maybe he should look to himself, maybe it's because Mr Dabell is a boring person. I would recommend anyone, with a spark of humanity, sit down and watch this film. You won't be disappointed, unless of course you happen to be a complete bore.