Soyuz spaseniya

I purchased this as a blue ray when it first came out because I love this period, and it wasn't disappointing. The only problem was the subtitles were really bad, incomplete, and sometimes would just vanish.

There is now a new version of it on YouTube with really good subtitles and scenes that were not in the first release. It is way better because you can follow the story. It is a great movie, and way more than a 5 and it is not propaganda, it is inspirational, unless of course you are a Russophobe.

Ask yourself, when all the rest of the countries have descended into a total mishmash of anarchy and mixed and competing cultures and races, what country will still exist in its purity. Russia, it is already a 1,000-year-old country, discount and disrespect it at your peril.

Director Andrei Kravchuk has made so far such interesting films on historical subjects as "Admiral" and "Viking". Now he took up the Decembrist revolt in the film "Union of Salvation." Personally I think that in this impromptu trilogy, Kravchuk's latest work is the most powerful.

It tells us about young Russian officers who returned home after the war with Napoleon. Having managed to defeat such a dangerous enemy, our heroes decided to make their own country better. Now they need to change the existing monarchical order. Gradually, the plot fits the events on the Senate Square and it is worth seeing with your own eyes ...

Some of the scenes in the film scared me very much, others are admirable. And the most interesting thing is that most of the material was taken by the authors from documentary sources. There is no special fiction here.

It's not easy to watch such a movie. On the one hand, it's very beautiful, on the other hand, it describes complex historical moments, sacrifices and the collapse of hopes, but that's the life - you need to describe it as it is, or not start the movie at all. Fortunately, Andrei Kravchuk knows his business and gave us a unique opportunity to see on the screen what we previously could see only in books.

The Union of Salvation is worth watching. The film came out confident and ambitious. You may sense the hand of a master in it, and if you want to learn a little more about Russian history, then you should definitely take the "Salvation Union" into account.

It is a nonsense from the historical point of view. Looks like a propaganda against any progressive movement in support of tyranny.

It's a well-done film, perhaps better if shot as a TV mini-series. I didn't get enough time to connect to all the characters essential to the plot but I did most especially with Emperor Nikolai and Sergei. The movie assumes you already know the backstory of the Decembrist Revolt and doesn't go in-depth with the issues and ideologies it presents. Nevertheless, it is well-shot and directed with beautiful locations and uniforms. Just a step below the BBC mini-series War and Peace. That sort of treatment is what was needed here. The score also felt out of place with the heavy and emotional scenes. Still a recommended watch for Napoleonic buffs.

I went to this film, being 99% sure that the film would be good. And - I was definitely right now this one percent of doubt has disappeared.

To begin with, I would like to note the musical component: it was damn suitable in every single (and whole) moment of the film I was especially pleased with the appearance of the Nautilus Pompilius melody "Progulki po vode" (for those who want to shout that the film is against the Decembrists this melody should become a symbol of comparison of the sacrifice of the Decembrists and the sacrifice of Christ and this probably indicates that the film at least respects Decembrists).

Events take place rather chaotically, and a person who doesn't know Russian history will have a hard time, but gradually he will get used to the quick narration and will go into rhythm. But I would like to note that such number of events which was covered by the film cannot be served a better way in two hours. The director's work was really brilliant.

In addition, the actors are marvellous. These are absolutely not those boring identical faces that an ordinary person is used to seeing on TV screens. These are new full of life energy faces that you really want to look at, who want to empathize with, and I'm not talking about any one side - the tsar or the Decembrists. I'm talking about everyone in general, because the cast is excellent. Like their acting.

Now we turn to the historical essence and I believe that the director did the almost impossible and the best that he could do - he did not adhere to anyone's point of view, telling dry historical facts and so that you begin to think about who is closer to you and - a miracle! - both sides are close to you because they are people, because they are insignificant and great, because they are delightfully insane and a little stupid. And they should be admired. The Decembrists standing under the buckshot knowing they were going to die, the Decembrists running on the ice knowing it would break under their feet. The humanity of Nicholas I, who until the last did nothing with the militant people, who ordered to shoot on the ice, giving people the opportunity to escape and forget about everything. Where is the support of the tsar here? Where is the support of the Decembrists here? Nowhere. And isn't it wonderful when the director himself gives you the right to choose which characters you stand on the side of? Yes, the Decembrists were hanged - it's a fact, isn't it? Yes, they shot at them - it's a fact, isn't it? Yes, the Decembrists wanted to change the world and change the order of the country, using radical methods or not, whatever - it's a fact, isn't it? Fact. Historical fact.

10/10