Zhizn Solzhenitsina

The writers, Leonid Parfyonov and Alexey Pishchulin, focus on documentary authenticity, avoiding unnecessary drama. But the drama still breaks through, scratches and grabs. The series is built as a dialogue between the past and the present: archival footage is combined with comments from Solzhenitsyn and his wife, as well as voice-over readings of texts by Alexander Isayevich.

A historically important film, where Solzhenitsyn can be seen not in a portrait, but alive, with facial expressions, wrinkles, movements, quotes. In the film, he will talk about God, happiness, laugh, live. In some shots, he will look like a child, wave his arms and dance, and in others, he will curl up like a thousand-year-old sage.

The four-part film is divided into chronological stages:

"Ascent" (1945-1956) - the events of the series begin in February 1945, 80 years ago. "Underground Writer" (1956-1973) - the creation of major works under censorship. "Exile" (1974-1994) - life abroad and world fame. "Return" (1994-1998) - the end of emigration and return to Russia.

You can watch the series in the NTV archives.

Each part of the film is filled with numerous historical materials: personal photo and video archives, including footage from the GULAG. "And the whole world will learn about GULAG from Solzhenitsyn." It will no longer be possible to erase this from history.

The four-part documentary about the great Russian writer Alexander Isaevich Solzhenitsyn is a deep and emotional immersion into the life and work of one of the most important literary figures of the 20th century. The creators of the project, using extensive interviews with Solzhenitsyn himself, as well as his personal video and photo archives, were able to create not just a biography, but a real chronicle of a man's struggle with the system.

From the first minutes of the series, the viewer finds himself in the center of events, when Solzhenitsyn shares his memories of Stalin's repressions, camps and exile. His words sound like he's addressing each of us, making us think about the value of freedom and human dignity. The interviews, recorded with sincerity and openness, allow us to see the writer not only as the author of The GULAG Archipelago, but also as a man who survived terrible trials and preserved his humanity.

Each episode focuses on the key moments of his life: from childhood and adolescence to literary fame and political activism. The use of archival materials, including rare photographs and videos, creates a unique atmosphere and helps to better understand the context of the time in which Solzhenitsyn lived. Visual elements seamlessly complement the story, allowing viewers to feel connected to the story.

From the first minutes of the series, the viewer finds himself in the center of events, when Solzhenitsyn shares his memories of Stalin's repressions, camps and exile. His words sound like he's addressing each of us, making us think about the value of freedom and human dignity. The interviews, recorded with sincerity and openness, allow us to see the writer not only as the author of The GULAG Archipelago, but also as a man who survived terrible trials and preserved his humanity.

However, the series not only praises Solzhenitsyn as a literary genius. He also raises important questions about the price of freedom and the writer's responsibility to society. At some points, there are critical views on his political position and influence on public opinion, which makes the picture more layered and balanced.

Alexei Pishchulin's documentary "The Life of Solzhenitsyn" immerses viewers into the complex and contradictory world of one of the 20th century's most pivotal dissidents. The film does not merely chronicle the milestones of Alexander Solzhenitsyn's biography - his time in labor camps, exile, the Nobel Prize, expulsion from the USSR, and return to post-Soviet Russia - but attempts to grapple with him as a figure, who torn between the role of a prophet and a man of his era.

Alexey Pishchulin avoids definitive judgments, instead offering a mosaic of archival footage, rare interviews, and excerpts from the writer's works, which together paint a portrait of an author whose life became a metaphor for the struggle for truth under totalitarianism.

The film gains particular power from details often omitted from textbooks. The director skillfully balances the writer's personal drama with historical context, demonstrating how the political storms of the 20th century shaped his ideas and character. However, the occasional lack of depth in analyzing his later views, particularly on post-Soviet Russia, leaves a sense of incompleteness. Archival clips and Solzhenitsyn's own voice recordings add authenticity, but the film could benefit from a broader range of perspectives - critics' and contemporaries' voices feel too sporadic.