Let’s go to the Russian woods and see how a movie is shot.
Life And Fate is an amazing novel created by a Soviet writer Vasily Grossman that criticizes Stalinism. The novel is accepted to be the best and most truthful piece of work about the World War II. It took 10 years to accomplish the novel that was withdrawn from the author by KGB officials when ready.
The author devoted the rest of his life to endless struggle for setting the masterpiece free. One copy that was managed to preserve in a magical way was published in Swiss in 1980. In Russia the novel saw the light in 1988. A Russian TV channel organized the shooting of a movie based on the novel called Life And Fate. The movie will describe the most dramatic event of the World War II – the Battle of Stalingrad.
The movie set embraced a dozen of cars left in the field with makeup rooms, and cameras. People in the picture are recording the background sounds.
The woman is applying mud to the clothes of an actor. It’s autumn and everything should look true to life.
Three tanks were available. They were also taken to the marsh to get some dirt and look natural.
How does the tank differ from the one used in 1942?
The driver.
Talking to the director.
Installation of a radio transmitter.
The weather was warm and it was too hot inside the tank. How could one managed to stay there during a real fight?
The commander.
Applying more mud with the help of a groom.
The tanker.
Having a rest.
Other actors.
Let’s see what weapons are available.
MP 40 is now associated with weapons used by soldiers of the German army though in fact it was seldom applied during the World War II.
The grenades. The famous hard grenade is above the others.
T-34 or as it was often said that time ‘the best tank of the world’
It is often written in official documents that dense smoke is left behind the tank. In reality the smoke left was even too dense. Can you now imagine what happened when 1500 tanks confronted in the same field? How did soldiers know where to shoot and go?
It’s difficult to get the old car going and it stops from time to time.
The tanks still look very impressive.
The ground seemed to thrill when it came nearby.
Over 84000 of T-34 tanks were made during the World War II.
The place where the movie was shot.
The colonel meets the tanks and renders a salute.
The most complicated part is to reach the spot in time set by the movie director and cover the established distance.
The production team spent the whole day in attempts to make synchronous actions.
The actors.
Director of photography. He has been participating in movie shooting since 1960.
A few pictures of dead pans.
Equipment used.
The director is following the events through a monitor located in the trailer. He doesn’t have to visit the film set.
The car.
The tanks.
The requisites.
Mobile phones reveal the epoch.
via russos and photo-discovery
“How does the tank differ from the one used in 1942 ?”
I give up, what, this one is 70 years old (and still goes!). What is the difference ?
Tank is from 1943. It has a different turret design. The “cupola” atop the turret for the commander was not present on the T-34 prior to 1943.
Yes I believe you are correct, the hatch design had to be changed to better protect the commander.
Thank you Yakov
The jeep needs a matching set of military non directional tires.
“How does the tank differ from the one used in 1942 ?”
Well all three are T-34/85s which were only used starting in late 1943
But 1941/42 model T-34s are very rare
Sorry, but you are mistaken. All three tanks have 76mm guns. These are not T-35/85s.
The T34/85 turret casting was different so to accommodate the larger weapon. There is an original early model T-34 in a collection in the state of Virginia in the US. There are T-34 tanks all over the place, in various private hands now.
THIS mutant has a turret from T-34/85, post-war production road wheels and a 76mm gun from T-34/76
Merkava, you are correct! I was mistaken. Although tank 118 has a 76mm gun, it technically is a t-34/85, as the hull and turret must be from t-34/85.
Perhaps they are trying to disguise this fact with all the “cargo” tied to the deck. What would be purpose of tying the tarpaulin to the turret, unless to hide the rear of the turret?
Well, at least they found an M38 instead of the far more common M44.
Looks like another extremely low-cost production similar to “Shtrafbat”.
Can anyone tell me who is adapting life and Fate for Russian TV? Who is the writer, who is the director? How long is it intended to be.
Thanks