1612 is a 2007 Russian historical fantasy film about the Time of Troubles and the Polish-Muscovite War (1605-1618). It was directed by Vladimir Khotinenko and produced by Nikita Mikhalkov. The movie was released on November 1, 2007 to coincide with the celebrations of National Unity Day on November 4 that marks the expulsion of Polish-Lithuanian troops from Moscow.
Plot
The film is set in Russia during the Time of Troubles, a period of civil disorder, famine and foreign invasion that followed the fall of the Rurik dynasty, which had ruled Russia in various capacities from 862 to 1598. The protagonist, Andrey, had been a servant at Tsar Boris Godunov's court while he was a boy, where he became the sole witness to the murder of the tsar's family by the order of plotting boyars. Now, ten years later, he travels across Russia with a Spanish nobleman, Alvaro Borja. After Borja is killed by robbers, Andrey disguises himself in his dead master's clothes and assumes his name, taking the guise of a "Spanish knight." Andrey is unable to forget the tsar's daughter, the beautiful Princess Kseniya, who he suspects survived the massacre of the tsar's family, and launches into a series of adventures in search of her. Andrey's story of love is played out against the background of the Polish-Lithuanian Commmonwealth's military intervention in the dispute for the throne and the ensuing power struggle.
Historical accuracy
The film is loosely based on historical events and includes some fantastic elements, like talking fish and unicorns.
According to the anti-Putin opposition coalition The Other Russia, "most of the history [in the film] has been diluted beyond recognition" [1]. The movie takes artistic licence with real events, e.g. contrary to historical fact, Polish troops are thrown back from Moscow. The Battle of Moscow (1612) was in fact an attempt to reach the Polish garrison in Moscow with supplies, the Poles having already entered the city. In another departure from historical events, Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky who were instrumental in organizing the popular uprising that led to the expulsion of Polish-Lithuanian forces, appear only briefly at the movie's conclusion[2].
Controversy
The film was met with tepid reviews, with critics of the Kremlin have comparing it to Soviet propaganda [3]. Questions were raised about the alleged antipolonism of the movie, but the film's director, interviewed in the Polish as well as Russian press, stressed that the movie was in no way intended to defame Poles. The director, Vladimir Khotinenko, claimed it was made for entertainment purposes as well as to raise awareness of the new holiday among the general public [4][5].
International as well as Russian critics point out that the movie, which was commissioned by the Kremlin [6], showcases key political ideas pushed by the Kremlin in advance of the parliamentary elections of December 2007: the necessity of strong leadership, the treachery of foreigners, and the importance of patriotism. The Time of Troubles, as portrayed in the film, represents the last decade of the 20th century, when Russia was a weak, anarchic and criminalised state heavily influenced by the USA. [7]. Khotinenko was quoted as saying, "It's important for me that the audience feel pride. That they didn't regard it as something that happened in ancient history but as a recent event. That they felt the link between what happened 400 years ago and today."[8].
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