''Twenty Days Without War'' () is a 1976

Soviet film The cinema of the Soviet Union includes films produced by the constituent republics of the Soviet Union reflecting elements of their pre-Soviet culture, language and history, albeit they were all regulated by the central government in Moscow. ...

based on a story by

Konstantin Simonov Konstantin Mikhailovich Simonov, born Kirill Mikhailovich Simonov (, – 28 August 1979), was a Soviet author, war poet, playwright and wartime correspondent,Константин Михайлович Симонов // " Литературна� ...

, directed by Aleksey German and starring

Yuri Nikulin Yuri Vladimirovich Nikulin (; 18 December 1921 – 21 August 1997) was a Soviet and Russian actor and clown who starred in many popular films. He is best known for his roles in Leonid Gaidai's comedies, such as ''The Diamond Arm'' and ''Kid ...

and

Lyudmila Gurchenko Lyudmila Markovna Gurchenko (12 November 193530 March 2011, ) was a Soviet and Russian actress, singer and entertainer. She was given the honorary title People's Artist of the USSR in 1983. Biography Lyudmila Gurchenko was born in Kharkiv, USSR ...

. The film describes how the romantic views of war as pictured in the Soviet war film industry were actually far different from the harsh realities of front line warfare.

Plot

Major Lopatin (played by

) is a military journalist during World War II, who goes back to his hometown of

Tashkent Tashkent (), also known as Toshkent, is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uzbekistan, largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of more than 3 million people as of April 1, 2024. I ...

(

Uzbekistan , image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg , image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg , symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem , national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...

) in Middle Asia at the end of 1942 to spend a 20-day leave following the

Battle of Stalingrad The Battle of Stalingrad ; see . rus, links=on, Сталинградская битва, r=Stalingradskaya bitva, p=stəlʲɪnˈɡratskəjə ˈbʲitvə. (17 July 19422 February 1943) was a major battle on the Eastern Front of World War II, ...

and to see the shooting of a film based on the wartime articles he has written. There he is romantically involved with a woman named Nina (played by

). Lopatin realizes that the romanticized views of warfare on the

home front Home front is an English language term with analogues in other languages. It is commonly used to describe the civilian populace of the nation at war as an active support system for their military. Civilians are traditionally uninvolved in com ...

are vastly different from the realities he had encountered.

Production

The film was based on the novel and screenplay of

(1915-1979), a military journalist who wrote the famous poem " Wait for Me" during World War II in 1941. The film was mostly shot in black and white, or very muted color, as looking aged to be visually closed to that wartime.

Cast

as Major Vasily Nikolaevich Lopatin, military journalist *

as Nina *Rashid Sadykov as

Usman Yusupov Usman Yusupovich Yusupov ( Uzbek: ''Usmon Yusupovich Yusupov''; Russian: Усман Юсупович Юсупов; 1 March 1901 – 7 May 1966) was a Soviet Uzbek politician who was the de facto head of state of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republ ...

, secretary of the Central Committee * Alexei Petrenko as Yuri Stroganov, pilot Captain * Angelina Stepanova as Zinaida Antonovna, artistic director of the theater *

Mikhail Kononov Mikhail Ivanovich Kononov (; 25 April 1940 – 16 July 2007) was a Soviet and Russian actor. People's Artist of Russia (1999). Biography He first appeared on stage at school. In 1963, Mikhail Kononov graduated from the Shchepkin Drama School a ...

as Pasha Rubtsov, voenkor *

Yekaterina Vasilyeva Yekaterina Sergeyevna Vasilyeva (; born 15 August 1945 in Moscow) is a Soviet and Russian theater and film actress. She performed in more than ninety films since 1967. Vasilyeva was married to the late director Sergei Solovyov and playwright ...

as Rubtsov, widow of Pasha *

Nikolai Grinko Nikolai Grigoryevich Grinko or Mykola Hryhorovych Hrynko (; ; 22 May 1920 – 10 April 1989) was a Soviet and Ukrainian actor. Biography Nikolai Grinko was born on 22 May 1920 Innokenty Smoktunovsky Innokenty Mikhailovich Smoktunovsky (; born ''Smoktunovich'', 28 March 19253 August 1994) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. He was named a People's Artist of the USSR in 1974 and a Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990. Early life Smo ...

) *

Lyusyena Ovchinnikova Lyusyena Ivanovna Ovchinnikova (; 10 September 1931 – 8 January 1999) was a Soviet film actress. She appeared in more than 30 films between 1959 and 1993. She is an Merited Artist of the Russian Federation (1973).Liya Akhedzhakova as woman with clocks *Dmitry Bessonov as Vedeneev, Ksenia's new husband *Zoya Vinogradova as Vera, actress * Lyudmila Zaytseva as Lidiya, actress playing a female sniper *Vladimir Mishanin as soldier on the train *Nikolay Mikheev as Colonel, film consultant (voiced by Igor Efimov) *Yuri Soloviev as commander *Vera Karpova as stepmother Nina (uncredited) *Oleg Korchikov as the driver (uncredited) *Arkady Trusov as guest-singer (uncredited)

References

External links

* {{Aleksei Yuryevich German 1976 films 1976 drama films Soviet drama films Soviet black-and-white films 1970s Soviet films 1970s Russian-language films Lenfilm films Eastern Front of World War II films Films set in 1942 Films directed by Aleksei Yuryevich German Russian-language drama films