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IMDbPro

The Russian Woodpecker

  • 2015
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
The Russian Woodpecker (2015)
Trailer for The Russian Woodpecker
Play trailer1:53
2 Videos
8 Photos
DocumentaryWar

As his country is gripped by revolution and war, a Ukrainian victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster discovers a dark secret and must decide whether to risk his life and play his part in th... Read allAs his country is gripped by revolution and war, a Ukrainian victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster discovers a dark secret and must decide whether to risk his life and play his part in the revolution by revealing it.As his country is gripped by revolution and war, a Ukrainian victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster discovers a dark secret and must decide whether to risk his life and play his part in the revolution by revealing it.

  • Director
    • Chad Gracia
  • Writer
    • Chad Gracia
  • Stars
    • Andrei Alexandrovich
    • Fedor Alexandrovich
    • Igor Alexandrovich
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Chad Gracia
    • Writer
      • Chad Gracia
    • Stars
      • Andrei Alexandrovich
      • Fedor Alexandrovich
      • Igor Alexandrovich
    • 23User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos2

    The Russian Woodpecker
    Trailer 1:53
    Watch The Russian Woodpecker
    After Devastation of "Chernobyl," What to Watch Next
    Clip 3:54
    Watch After Devastation of "Chernobyl," What to Watch Next

    Photos8

    The Russian Woodpecker (2015)
    Chad Gracia in The Russian Woodpecker (2015)
    Fedor Alexandrovich in The Russian Woodpecker (2015)
    Fedor Alexandrovich at an event for The Russian Woodpecker (2015)
    Chad Gracia, Fedor Alexandrovich, and Artem Ryzhykov at an event for The Russian Woodpecker (2015)
    Chad Gracia at an event for The Russian Woodpecker (2015)
    The Russian Woodpecker (2015)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Andrei Alexandrovich
    • Fedor's Father
    Fedor Alexandrovich
    Fedor Alexandrovich
    • Self
    Igor Alexandrovich
    • Fedor's Son
    Natalia Barabovskaya
    • Chernobyl Historian
    • (as Dr. Natalia Baranovskaya)
    Andrei Bilyk
    • Chernobyl Chief Engineer
    Fedor Chebanenko
    • Duga Data Commander
    • (as Lt-Col. Fedor Chebanenko)
    Charlie D'Agata
    • Self - CBS News Foreign Correspondent
    • (archive footage)
    Anatoly Duatlov
    • Chernobyl Engineer
    Fedor Dubrovka
    • Radar Professor
    Mikhail Gorbachev
    Mikhail Gorbachev
    • Former President Russia
    • (archive footage)
    Viktor Janoekovytsj
    • Former President Ukraine
    • (archive footage)
    Vitali Klytsjko
    • Mayor of Kiev
    • (archive footage)
    • …
    Vladimir Komarov
    • Head of Chernobyl Investigation Committee
    Georgy Kopchinski
    • Last Soviet Head of Atomic Energy
    Svetlana Korotkova
    • Art Critic
    Nikolai Kravchuk
    • Nuclear Physicist
    Andrew Michtrowski
    • Canadian Government Official
    • (archive footage)
    Vladimir Musiets
    • Duga Commander
    • (as Col. Vladimir Musiets)
    • Director
      • Chad Gracia
    • Writer
      • Chad Gracia
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Fedor Alexandrovich, the hero of this film, did not see any version of the film (including controversial secret camera footage of him) until the film's premiere at Sundance. Upon learning that he had been filmed and presented in a negative light, and responding to a question from the audience about how he felt about this, he exclaimed: "At first was upset. But then I realized that not only am I the protagonist of this film, but also the antagonist! So I'm satisfied."

    User reviews23

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    Not sure what to think about this one...
    Something feels inauthentic in how this is presented. Many scenes are set up in a way where information they receive seems too convenient. There are a lot of cuts, a lot of things that are said to have happened but weren't caught on camera, but we are expected to believe.

    That said, I don't doubt how corrupt and disgusting the soviet system was and how that has in some ways continued to exist into the current day. This documentary just feels a bit unfocused and really tries to rely on a conspiracy theory for which not enough evidence is provided (though it is reasonable to assume that this evidence has been thoroughly covered up by the powers that be). There could be truth to it, or it could all be made up for sensationalism. It's hard to say.

    The film could have benefited from focusing more on the details of the presenter's family history where his grandparents were sent to the gulags, the terrible things that happened to them and the various mass starvations caused by the soviet regime. It's in the film, but I feel it should have been elaborated upon much more. This could have then been shown in parallel to the fairly recent 2014 protests in Ukraine that resulted in deaths of hundreds of those protesters (which is really the most impactful element of the film, other than a few suspicious answers given during some of the interviews). The idea in the film that remnants of the Soviet Union are still alive and well and continue to be responsible for ongoing atrocities is a valid and important one to get across. I just don't think it was handled particularly well.

    Even the official story of what happened at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, acknowledged by the Russian government, shows how incompetent and reprehensible the government was in their handling of the disaster. The film probably would have been taken more seriously and overall been more effective if they looked at things from this angle.

    The Soviet Union and any government today, really, are without a doubt unworthy of trust. But I'm just not entirely convinced that I should trust the makers of this film, either.

    5/10.
    helpful•1
    0
    • Chronic_Johnson
    • Jan 6, 2021

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 16, 2015 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Ukraine
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Russian
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Російський дятел
    • Filming locations
      • Chernobyl, Ukraine(location)
    • Production companies
      • Roast Beef Productions
      • Rattapallax
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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