I sette coraggiosi

The Russian title of this film (which is faithfully given in transcription in the IMDb entry as Semero Smelykh) is Семеро Смелых-- which actually comes out "Seven Brave People" (or Seven Brave Ones, or perhaps The Seven Who Were Brave, if you want to get arty). In any case, there's no mention of men as such in it, so all of North Wales can relax on that score.

To call the film "propaganda" is not so much inaccurate as marveling at the obvious: no Soviet film of the period (or indeed any period) could be made *and* released for public consumption without passing several stages of official review, much of which -- and especially under high Stalinism -- was political in nature. Thus nothing that was not perceived as serving certain state ends (or the ends of certain powerful individuals/agencies within the state) could show up on Soviet screens. And much that *did* show up, naturally, contained a propaganda quotient far beyond the level of BEARABLE to a non-Soviet audience.

This film was Sergei Gerasimov's first as director-- and certainly not his best. Take a look, by way of contrast, at his version of Sholokhov's "Tikhii Don" ("and Quiet Flows the Don", 1958) or his last film, "Tolstoy (1984), in which he cast himself as the eponymous writer.

"Seven Brave, er, Individuals" is, in any case, endowed with good location segments and occasionally reaches an admirable level of tautness in the characters' problem-solving. So it can boast a watchability factor, if you will, rather higher than many of its contemporaries-- and evidently achieved a re-watchability factor to match, for that matter, as its creditable IMDb viewer rating attests.

One of the 'men' in 'Seven Brave Men' is a woman: in fact, she's the medical officer in the story's expedition. This movie is Soviet propaganda, so I suspect that the gender evasion in the title is intentional ... to show that men and women are all equal in the workers' paradise, comrade, da? Having visited the Soviet Union pre-glasnost, I'm very sceptical about such symbolism. The majority of the physicians in the USSR were female, and the propaganda officers always presented this statistic to the outside world as proof of the (supposedly) enlightened status of women under communism. But in fact, medical technology and hospital conditions under Soviet collectivism were so wretched that doctors did not have the exalted status in Russian society that they've enjoyed elsewhere, and to be a doctor in the USSR was largely perceived as drudgework. Job openings for physicians tended to be filled by women because, frankly, men didn't want the job.

CONTAINS SLIGHT SPOILERS. The Soviet factories need tin, so a six-'man' expedition (including the female Dr Okhrimenko) have journeyed to the Siberian Arctic in search of lodes. While they're in the neighbourhood, they hope to indoctrinate the natives into the glories of collectivism. The leader of the expedition is handsome Captain Letnikov. En route, the merry crew discover that they've acquired a stowaway: a Tintin-like youth named Moliboga. Why anyone would stow away on a vessel to the Arctic is beyond me. The sound recording in this film is bad, and I had difficulty following the Russian dialogue -- even with the assistance of a Ukrainian native who watched the film with me -- but apparently Moliboga is meant to be a teenager, even though the actor playing the role seems a bit older. Teenage Moliboga is straight away put to work as the expedition's cook. (A galley slave?) For purposes of this movie, he also fulfils the role of commie relief, I mean comic relief. I hope his cooking skills are adequate, because he isn't very funny. Anyway, he's now the seventh man of the title.

The expedition's pilot, Bogun, accidentally damages an important piece of equipment ... leading to much dialogue as to how he has let down the nation's noble cause, and set back the latest five-year plan, and such. Eventually, he redeems himself when some other members of the expedition are stranded by bad weather. (Who'd have thought there'd be bad weather in the Arctic?)

The exteriors in this film are impressive, and I get the impression that these scenes were indeed filmed in Siberia or at least in the extreme northern Soviet territory. (Not that I would know; I've never been there.) The actors' foreshortened shadows and their condensed breath make it quite clear they're in near-polar latitudes. We see some brief scenes of the native Eskimos or Inuit or Yupik, or whatever this week's Politically Correct designation is. Frankly, I can't understand why anyone would live in such a desolate region, especially in the days before modern technology. As if these people didn't have enough problems just being Eskimos, they're about to become something even more unfortunate: communist Eskimos.

There are some exciting scenes of an avalanche and a blizzard. These look quite real, although I wouldn't have put it past the filmmakers to stage a genuine avalanche just to get the footage. Several times, the wind blows snowflakes directly onto the camera lens, reminding us that we're watching actors in a movie.

The woman doctor is played by Tamara Makarova: from the looks of her, she doesn't seem to be related to the very beautiful ballet dancer Natalia Makarova (whom I've seen in the free world after she defected from the USSR). Interestingly, the filmmakers establish this character as a Ninotchka-like Soviet woman -- all brisk efficiency, with no room for emotion or love -- and yet, at the very end of the film, she confers a kiss upon one of her male crewmates. Within the context of this stolid unemotional movie, this is presented as a moment of very torrid passion indeed. I'll rate this movie 4 points out of 10. Now I know why it was called the Cold War.

Adventure, drama. Another old picture that I would hardly have found myself if not for the help of a person knowledgeable in Soviet cinema, for which I thank him again. And the topic raised here does not very often flash in the cinema - about polar explorers, or about the brave conquerors of the Far North. I looked at the picture with pleasure - and was satisfied. And here's my brief opinion for you - Komsomol members are conquering the Arctic. I will note right away that there are no minuses in the picture, and there never was and never will be, and obvious combined shooting, rustic scenery, and frankly shitty sound (in some moments) cannot be considered a minus a priori, because the picture was shot in the mid-thirties of the last century, when technologies were not as advanced as they are now. Therefore, I will focus your attention on the advantages of this picture.

So, here they are: 1. Scenario - the picture tells about a generation of romantics - the first Komsomol members who built a Great Power with their own hands - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which had to endure terrible trials, but which it successfully endured. And here we are talking about seven Komsomol members who, at the call of the party, went to the Far North for the first winter, and thereby laid the foundations for studying the Arctic, on the basis of which Russian science and technology is still based. These pioneers have endured severe trials: very low temperatures, the loss of comrades, the establishment of life in these harsh lands, scientific research. At the same time, the interaction with the local native population is perfectly shown (which we did not destroy like the star stripes, but lived peacefully side by side with them, introduced them to civilization, while preserving their culture and customs). Komsomol members are the main characters whose hands and minds mastered the Soviet Arctic, and who have earned eternal glory for themselves. Each of the heroes is useful in this matter, each has his own skills that benefit the Country of the Soviets, each of them is ready to give even his life for the prosperity of our Motherland. In short, if you are tired of the same type of scenarios and boring characters, then pay attention to this picture.

2. Humor - even in this adventure drama there was a place for humor. There is not much of it, but it is clearly appropriate, and it dilutes the harsh everyday life of the Far North quite well.

3. Atmosphere - it's amazing how, with the help of primitive technologies of the thirties, the creators of the picture managed to drive the viewer into the atmosphere of the Far North so that even now, when viewing, you feel a chill on the back from the camera views and harsh trials and heroic achievements. Although this is not surprising, because the picture was shot in the Arkhangelsk region, and very close to the places where young Komsomol members began conquering the Arctic. My respects!

4. Acting - the Soviet theater school is not a modern Moscow Art Theater. Then they taught in such a way that you will remember for the rest of your life. All the actors behave naturally, the dialogues are perfectly written, there are no unnecessary pauses, antics, body language sometimes shows more than a hundred replicas.

A little about the main characters: 1. Ilya Letnikov performed by Nikolai Bogolyubov is the head of the winter quarters and the leader of our heroes. Sometimes he is harsh, but he is fair, he stands up for all his comrades like a mountain. Nikolai Ivanovich excellently succeeded in this role. Bravo!

2. Moliboga performed by Pyotr Aleynikov is the seventh Komsomol member who made his way to Letnikov's squad by secret paths. A brave, determined guy who became an excellent cook, and so well diluted the general atmosphere with his jokes. To Peter Martynovich I can only say "Bravo!" 3. Zhenya Okhrimenko, performed by Tamara Makarova, is a doctor of the Komsomol detachment, who has repeatedly saved her comrades and not only, a strong-minded girl, at the same time a gentle and vulnerable soul, who is not alien to the sense of beauty. Tamara Fyodorovna coped with the role no less successfully than her colleagues. Bravo!

I forgot to mention that the director and screenwriter of this picture was Sergey Gerasimov. Yes, the same Gerasimov, who will put the best film adaptations of the books "Young Guard" and "Quiet Don" on the Earth plan, and will shoot a number of other successful films, for which he will be remembered forever.

As a result, it has an excellent adventure drama about Soviet polar explorers, with an excellent script, a great atmosphere, good humor, and great acting.

My rating is 9 out of 10 and my recommendation for viewing!