Утомлённые солнцем? (Burnt by the Sun?)

During the transit to Vladivostok, our Fine and Foreign Films group presented the 1994 Russian film entitled Burnt by the Sun (Utomlyonnye solntsem). Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, this movie was directed by and starred Nikita Mikhalkov. In terms of iconic film industry families, the Mikhalkovs are the Russian equivalent to America's Barrymore family.

In 1936 Russia, revolutionary war hero Colonel Sergei Petrovich Kotov enjoys an idyllic summer in his dacha with his young wife, Maroussia, and six-year-old daughter Nadia (played by Mikhalkov's daughter, Nadezhda Mikhalkova), as well as other engaging family and friends. Visiting unexpectedly from Moscow, Cousin Dmitri (Mitya) charms the women and little Nadia with his games and pianistic bravura. But Kotov isn't fooled. At the time of Stalin's repression, with telephone calls in the middle of the night presaging doom, he knows that Dmitri has a darker purpose for his ostensibly social visit. The film ends with Mitya and a couple of thugs carrying Kotov off to the Gulag under the orders of his former patron, Joseph Stalin.  This is a provocative and emotionally compelling movie that entertains but not in the "feel good at the end" way.

In April, 2010, Mikhalkov co-wrote, directed, and starred in a sequel, Burnt by the Sun 2 (Utomlyonnye solntsem 2). In 1941, Colonel Kotov has miraculously survived the death sentence and Stalin's Purge. He now fights on the front-lines as a private. His daughter, Nadia, is a nurse risking her own life to save others. In the war-torn nation even former enemies must fight together to defend their land against the threat of fascism. People stand up united for the sake of victory.

Unlike the original film, this sequel flopped at the box office in Russia. Could that be a sign of cultural change over the last six years? Are military heroics no longer appropriate in this nation now a decade removed from the Soviet regime?

The sequel movie poster prominently adorns a theater in downtown Vladivostok. That movie house  sits across the main street from the parade ground that hosted the Victory Day Parade, celebrating the 65th anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviets. The monument depicted below represents the dedication of that parade ground to "The Fighters for the Soviet Power in the Far East," similar to the fighters portrayed in the movie sequel.

Based on the positive public reaction to the Victory Day parade, not only in Vladivostok but throughout Russia, national spirit and pride abound, as do respect for and confidence in the military.



Perhaps the unsuccessful debut of Mikhalkov's World War II era sequel to his original Academy Award Winner has less to do with theme and content, and more with competition from the other films showing with it...capitalism at its finest, so to speak. The four posters below appear just to Mikhalkov's right on the same theater facade. Burnt by the Sun 2 vies for viewers with several American entries, including "Iron Man Two."

Given only enough rubles to afford one movie for your weekend date, which would you pick?

Not Back in the USSR

This morning I put on my service dress blues and went topside to photograph a momentous occasion, our arrival into Vladivostok (Владивосток), Russia.

(Followers of this blog already know that I've had problems uploading photos lately. Apparently it works better in Russia. I complain not.)


Several decades ago, my dad and a few of his siblings capitalized on an opportunity to tour the USSR. I don't recall the exact year, but I suspect that most of them were already older than I am now. It was an auspicious event for all of them, in spite of the restrictive entry requirements and control over their personal movements while in country. I know that they visited Moscow, and perhaps St. Petersburg. I am certain they did not get to see Vladivostok. As the headquarters of the Soviet Pacific Fleet, this storied port city was closed during those years, and not only to foreigners. Even Soviet citizens required special permission to enter.

Times do change. As a child of the Cold War, I was fascinated today as our Flagship pulled into that same naval base and moored alongside a freshly painted Russian cruiser. Sailors from both navies lined their respective rails in mutual honor and respect. Both national flags flew side by side on the pier. Similar to last year when we visited Vietnam, setting foot on this soil is a privilege and treat beyond my dreams. I continue to wonder how or why I am so fortunate at this stage of my life.

Unlike Vietnam and most of our other ports, there will be no bike riding or running here. Our purpose is to exchange friendship and camaraderie with our Russian counterparts. We will proudly wear our uniforms at all times, even at liberty.

This is a special weekend for the Russians as well. They commemorate "Victory Day", День Победы, celebrating the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviets at the end of World War II. Three planned events highlight the visit: 1) A "Big Top" reception that we host on our deck; 2) Sunday Mass at Mary Mother of God Mission; 3) Our Sailors and Marines will participate in a multinational parade in celebration of Victory Day.

I certainly plan to digitally chronicle and share these events and other activities during our brief stay here.

I may sample some of the local drink as well...in the interest of international friendship, of course.