«Russian mutiny» by Dr. Alexander Proshkin, Russia, 1999. In roles: Vladimir Mashkov, Mateusz Damentsky, Sergei Makowecki, Caroline Prusca and others.
Pushkin created an amazing alloy of family history and a historical novel that he called a «literary will» that hides behind a simple syllable a deep study of the Russian soul. The action is taking place against the background of a scary riot, and the center of the story is young officer Peter Greenev.
Pushkin is consciously plotting not only a historical prose but also a magical fairy tale; accidents are a manifestation of the highest justice. The hareless tub, gifted to the vagrant, comes back as a rescue from the gallows when the vagrant turns out to be Scared. The reader bears witness to the symmetry of mercy: The humanity shown in small things triumphs in great things.
Pushkin wrote a novel that in the worst times, love and compassion are more important than political calculations, and pure morality and loyalty to this word can in some cases defeat even the unforgiving course of history.
The director, Alexander Proshkin, combined in his film the story of the «Captain’s Daughter» with documentary material from the Pushkin’s Story of Pugacheuv, to show the rebellion in its entirety and contradictoryness. The title of the film refers to the famous gunpowder formula: «Do not bring God to see a Russian riot, pointless and ruthless.»
The Russian mutiny won three Nica Film Awards, three prizes at the Film Festival «Kinitavr», and the Grand Prix of «Listapada Gold» at the «Listapad» Film Festival in Minsk.