Battalion (2015)

Russia, 1917, WWI. This is the story of the 1st Russian Women's Battalion of Death, formed as part of an ill-conceived propaganda ploy by the Russian Provisional Government in late May of 1917.

Director:

Dmitriy Meskhiev

Writers:

Ilya Avramenko, Evgeniy Ayzikovich

Stars:

Lesya Andreeva, Mariya Antonova, Mariya Aronova

18 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Lesya Andreeva	...	Feklusha
Mariya Antonova	...	Evdokiya Kolokolchikova
Mariya Aronova	...	Mariya Bochkareva
Nikolay Auzin	...	Nikolay Seleznev
Marat Basharov	...	Aleksandr Kerenskiy
Margarita Bychkova	...	mat Nadi
Sergey Byzgu	...	Afanasiy Bochkaryov
Valeriy Degtyar	...	Ilya Tatishchev, general
Aleksey Dmitriev	...	Pankrat
Polina Dudkina	...	Galina Svistunova
Evgeniy Dyatlov	...	Aleksey Tseplyaev, polkovnik
Khelga Filippova	...	mat Toni
Konstantin Fisenko	...	Ofitser
Arina Ivanova	...	Sestra miloserdiya
Evgeniy Karpov	...	General genshtaba

Storyline

February 1917 revolution has affected mode of life in Russia and changed the course of Great War. Monarch has abdicated. In trenches, were the confrontation with Germans lasts for several years, Bolsheviks are very active with their propaganda. They call for making peace with enemy. Russian officers can actually do nothing without approval of so-called Soldiers Committees. The army is just near the stage of complete degradation. By order of Russian Provisional Government, attempting to strengthen the spirit, the female Death Battalion is established. In charge of the Battalion - Cavalier of St. George Maria Bochkareva. Death Battalion give the lead of courage, fortitude and composure, stiffen the spirit of soldiers and prove, that each of the female hero is worthy of the Warrior Title.

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Plot Keywords:

russian revolution | woman in uniform | year 1917 | female soldier | russian provisional government | 

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Taglines:

Pervyy. Zhenskiy. Bessmertnyy. (First. Female. Immortal.)

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

There is an expanded TV version of the film titled "Women's Battalion" (4 series). "Battalion's" producer Igor Ugolnikov is the second unit director of this version.

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Connections

Referenced in Evening Urgant: Igor Ugolnikov/Irina Rakhmanova (2015)

User Reviews

Entertaining, but not truthful

Russia had already lost the war, and carrying on with it was pointless.

Does show how gruesome the war was, but fails to question the need to fight it.

Enemy soldiers in uniform are entitled to collect military intelligence and are not spies. To ignore a white flag is a war crime.

Maria Bochkareva got pardoned once, but urged US intervention to help the far-right and antisemitic Whites in Russia's Civil War. Saying she was 'seen as on the White side' is not a fair summation of this.

Came back to fight as part of their army, was captured and executed.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Russia

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

20 February 2015 (Russia)

Also Known As:

The Battalion

Filming Locations:

St. Petersburg, Russia

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,292,235

Company Credits

Production Co:

Art Pictures Studio, Corner Work

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1