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Paper Soldier

Original title: Bumazhnyy soldat
  • 20082008
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
904
YOUR RATING
Paper Soldier (2008)
  • Drama
  • Romance
In 1961, a Soviet medical officer is conflicted about his position overseeing the health of future cosmonauts.In 1961, a Soviet medical officer is conflicted about his position overseeing the health of future cosmonauts.In 1961, a Soviet medical officer is conflicted about his position overseeing the health of future cosmonauts.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
904
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Aleksey German Jr.
  • Writers
    • Vladimir Arkusha
    • Aleksey German Jr.(screenplay)
    • Julia Glezarova
  • Stars
    • Merab Ninidze
    • Chulpan Khamatova
    • Anastasiya Shevelyova
Top credits
  • Director
    • Aleksey German Jr.
  • Writers
    • Vladimir Arkusha
    • Aleksey German Jr.(screenplay)
    • Julia Glezarova
  • Stars
    • Merab Ninidze
    • Chulpan Khamatova
    • Anastasiya Shevelyova
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 21 nominations

    Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Merab Ninidze
    Merab Ninidze
    • Doctor Daniil Pokrovskyas Doctor Daniil Pokrovsky
    Chulpan Khamatova
    Chulpan Khamatova
    • Nina, Daniil's Wifeas Nina, Daniil's Wife
    Anastasiya Shevelyova
    Anastasiya Shevelyova
    • Veraas Vera
    Aleksandr Glebov
    • Davidas David
    Ruslan Ibragimov
    • Adrian Nikolayevas Adrian Nikolayev
    Fyodor Lavrov
    Fyodor Lavrov
    • German Titovas German Titov
    Polina Filonenko
    • Misha's Friendas Misha's Friend
    Valentin Kuznetsov
    • Yuri Gagarinas Yuri Gagarin
    Kirill Ulyanov
    Kirill Ulyanov
    • Garikas Garik
    Ramil Salakhutdinov
    • Mishaas Misha
    Mikhail Gendelev
    • Artist Arkhangelskyas Artist Arkhangelsky
    Oleg Grinchenko
    • Unknown Manas Unknown Man
    Albert Makarov
    • Valentin Bondarenkoas Valentin Bondarenko
    Konstantin Shelestun
    • Sashaas Sasha
    Igor Kechayev
    • Captain at the Campas Captain at the Camp
    Anna Yekaterininskaya
    • Lab Worker Anyaas Lab Worker Anya
    Igor Zhilkin
    • Grigorias Grigori
    Oleg Kovalov
    • Barrack Guestas Barrack Guest
    • Director
      • Aleksey German Jr.
    • Writers
      • Vladimir Arkusha
      • Aleksey German Jr.(screenplay)
      • Julia Glezarova
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Referenced in Radio Dolin: Why Shoot a Movie in Space, Read Pelevin and Reshoot The Addams Family? A Lot of Difficult Questions (2021)

    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Paper Soldier-An Alexei German Jr.film which ruins it chances of being a good film due to its scenes of petty talks.
    Russian cinema is usually associated with the inevitable theme of war where the depiction of ordinary citizens and their unusual destinies becomes a solid narrative device to reveal strengths and weaknesses of human minds. Bumazhnyy Soldat (Paper Soldier) is one such film directed by Alexei German junior which looks at the lives of some ordinary Russian people who faced tough times both mentally as well as physically before the launch of Soviet Union's first manned space project. The film's title "Paper Soldier" alludes to the fact that a lot of common people had precarious lives due to the morals and conditions which prevailed in Soviet Union of post world war II time when the lives of ordinary citizens did not matter a lot. The focus was more on achieving larger goals for which minor lives did not matter. Hence, it was ethically right that a soldier was considered nothing more than a dummy made up of paper. The film is set around late 1950s or early 1960s but Stalin has not yet been forgotten. In one of the important scenes which occurs twice, an old man is shown trying to sell a big Stalin poster. This is one example of the fact that although Russian people were preparing themselves to be ruled by a different ruler there was still some nostalgia for the glorious days of the past. The film's true strength is revealed in its outdoor shots where human misery is shown in full force. One gets to see desolate people, barren railway tracks, housing project being demolished. However, the pace slackens once the scene shifts indoor when viewers are made to bear witness to endless sessions of petty talks which have very little bearing on the overall narrative trajectory of the film. This is where a weak element of this film is revealed.
    helpful•4
    7
    • FilmCriticLalitRao
    • Oct 16, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 13, 2008 (Russia)
    • Countries of origin
      • Russia
      • Netherlands
    • Official sites
      • Official site (France)
      • Official site (Russia)
    • Language
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Бумажный солдат
    • Filming locations
      • Lenfilm Studios, Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, Petrogradsky District, St. Petersburg, Russia
    • Production companies
      • Phenomen Films
      • Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation
      • The Hubert Bals Fund of the Rotterdam Festival
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $284,987
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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