Stunning similarity between actor and historical figure: Banionis and Mikhail Muravyov
Yesterday I was in cinema :) I can't remember when I was in the cinema for the last time: may be in 2000 or in 2001 :) Does not mean that I am not looking films but typically I am doing this at home - using DVD or media player. But hearing so many talks going about most profitable Lithuanian film of all times I wasn't able to resist the opportunity to see it as soon as possible.
So yesterday I went to "Forum Cinemas" and saw it - "Tadas Blinda Rising" (name clearly allusion to the last film from the series about Dr. Hannibal Lecter (who according to Tom Harris was also born in LIthuania) - "Hannibal Rising"):
For those who don't know I need to say that Tadas Blinda is some sort of Lithuanian version of Robin Hood but significantly newer since Tadas Blinda is acting in the middle of XIXth century - before and after 1863-1864 uprising. Calling himself "the leveler of the world" he is fighting for the eternal issue - the equality and social justice :)
This film leaves the hope that the continuation will follow: the action of "Tadas Blinda Rising" runs in 1861-1862 just before the major rebellion and only first military skirmishes occurs in the film.
What I can say ? Star cast of course. Two main characters of the film are played by the Mantas Jankavičius and Agnė Ditkovskytė. But their play is rather boring and both lacks some passion and charisma necessary for the such roles. Significantly better acting are of the actors of older generations, e.g. parents of Kristina (Agnė Ditkovskytė) - Vidas Petkevičius and Tatyana Luytaeva (mother of Ditkovskytė in life also), and others. Among the young actors probably the best job was done by Mykolas Vildžiūnas (he plays the worst character in the film - poruchik Razumovsky). And I agree that the best job is done by the cameraman.
Strange decision and miscarriage in the film is that actors speak in the language in which their roles spoke in life. As a result we see and hear Banionis and Šurna speaking in Russian with Lithuanian accent while Lyutaeva speaks in Lithuanian with Russian accent :)
In principle film is rather typical historical Hollywood type action film. In Lithuanian context film of course breaks some limits and goes to new level - never our cinematographers filmed such expensive cinema before :) And it is important film too - in any case it is better to see full halls of schoolchildren looking domestic historic films than foreign made ones :)
My main goal of this report is to show what many people observed - the stunning similarity between veteran actor Donatas Banionis (it is in principle heroism to play in cinema at the age of 87) and his personage - Mikhail Muravyov ("The Hangman").
But before some advertiising for the film. Several more posters:
And Banionis - Muravyov:
First skirmishes before 1863-1864 uprisal :))
Tadas Blinda and poruchik Razumovsky:
And finally - Banionis ("Muravyov") in film and portrait of real Muravyov :
So yesterday I went to "Forum Cinemas" and saw it - "Tadas Blinda Rising" (name clearly allusion to the last film from the series about Dr. Hannibal Lecter (who according to Tom Harris was also born in LIthuania) - "Hannibal Rising"):
For those who don't know I need to say that Tadas Blinda is some sort of Lithuanian version of Robin Hood but significantly newer since Tadas Blinda is acting in the middle of XIXth century - before and after 1863-1864 uprising. Calling himself "the leveler of the world" he is fighting for the eternal issue - the equality and social justice :)
This film leaves the hope that the continuation will follow: the action of "Tadas Blinda Rising" runs in 1861-1862 just before the major rebellion and only first military skirmishes occurs in the film.
What I can say ? Star cast of course. Two main characters of the film are played by the Mantas Jankavičius and Agnė Ditkovskytė. But their play is rather boring and both lacks some passion and charisma necessary for the such roles. Significantly better acting are of the actors of older generations, e.g. parents of Kristina (Agnė Ditkovskytė) - Vidas Petkevičius and Tatyana Luytaeva (mother of Ditkovskytė in life also), and others. Among the young actors probably the best job was done by Mykolas Vildžiūnas (he plays the worst character in the film - poruchik Razumovsky). And I agree that the best job is done by the cameraman.
Strange decision and miscarriage in the film is that actors speak in the language in which their roles spoke in life. As a result we see and hear Banionis and Šurna speaking in Russian with Lithuanian accent while Lyutaeva speaks in Lithuanian with Russian accent :)
In principle film is rather typical historical Hollywood type action film. In Lithuanian context film of course breaks some limits and goes to new level - never our cinematographers filmed such expensive cinema before :) And it is important film too - in any case it is better to see full halls of schoolchildren looking domestic historic films than foreign made ones :)
My main goal of this report is to show what many people observed - the stunning similarity between veteran actor Donatas Banionis (it is in principle heroism to play in cinema at the age of 87) and his personage - Mikhail Muravyov ("The Hangman").
But before some advertiising for the film. Several more posters:
And Banionis - Muravyov:
First skirmishes before 1863-1864 uprisal :))
Tadas Blinda and poruchik Razumovsky:
And finally - Banionis ("Muravyov") in film and portrait of real Muravyov :