Sergei Fyodorovich Bondarchuk (russian: Сергей Фёдорович Бондарчук, ; uk, Сергі́й Федорович Бондарчук, Serhíj Fédorovych Bondarchúk; 25 September 192020 October 1994) was a

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nation ...

and Russian actor, film director, and screenwriter of

Ukrainian Ukrainian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Ukraine * Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe * Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine * So ...

Bulgarian Bulgarian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Bulgaria * Bulgarians, a South Slavic ethnic group * Bulgarian language, a Slavic language * Bulgarian alphabet * A citizen of Bulgaria, see Demographics of Bulgaria * Bul ...

and Serbian origin who was one of the leading figures of

Russian cinema The cinema of Russia began in the Russian Empire, widely developed in the Soviet Union and in the years following its dissolution, the Russian film industry would remain internationally recognized. In the 21st century, Russian cinema has become ...

of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He is known for his sweeping period dramas, including the internationally acclaimed four-part

adaptation In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...

Leo Tolstoy Count Lev Nikolayevich TolstoyTolstoy pronounced his first name as , which corresponds to the romanization ''Lyov''. () (; russian: link=no, Лев Николаевич Толстой,In Tolstoy's day, his name was written as in pre-refor ...

's ''

War and Peace ''War and Peace'' (russian: Война и мир, translit=Voyna i mir; pre-reform Russian: ; ) is a literary work by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy that mixes fictional narrative with chapters on history and philosophy. It was first published ...

'' and the

Napoleonic War The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...

epic '' Waterloo''. Bondarchuk's work won him numerous international accolades. His epic production of Tolstoy's ''

'' won Bondarchuk, who both directed and acted in the leading role of

Pierre Bezukhov Count Pyotr "Pierre" Kirillovich Bezukhov (; russian: Пьер Безу́хов, Пётр Кири́ллович Безу́хов) is the fictional protagonist of Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel ''War and Peace''. He is the favourite out of several illeg ...

, the

Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film is a Golden Globe Award presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Until 1986, it was known as the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film, meaning that any non-American film coul ...

(1968), and the

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...

in 1968. He was made both a Hero of Socialist Labour and a

People's Artist of the USSR People's Artist of the USSR ( rus, Народный артист СССР, Narodny artist SSSR), also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union. Nomenclature and significan ...

Early life

Sergey Bondarchuk was born in the village of

Bilozerka Bilozerka ( uk, Білозе́рка, ) is an urban-type settlement in Kherson Raion, Kherson Oblast, southern Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Bilozerka settlement hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. It has a population of Ad ...

(now in

Kherson Raion Kherson Raion ( uk, Херсонський район, russian: Херсонский район) is a raion (district) of Kherson Oblast, Ukraine. It was created in July 2020 as part of the reform of administrative divisions of Ukraine. The cente ...

, Kherson Oblast of Ukraine) on September 25, 1920 in the family of peasants Fyodor Petrovich and Tatyana Vasilievna (nee Tokarenko). The paternal grandfather was ethnically

Pyotr Konstantinovich Bondarchuk, the grandmother was ethnically Serbian Matryona Fyodorovna Sirvulya. At the time of childbirth, the father was serving in the

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...

, the mother, being a deeply religious person, named her son in honor of

Sergius of Radonezh Sergius of Radonezh (russian: Се́ргий Ра́донежский, ''Sergii Radonezhsky''; 14 May 1314 – 25 September 1392), also known as Sergiy Radonezhsky, Serge of Radonezh and Sergius of Moscow, was a spiritual leader and monastic re ...

and baptized him in the Annunciation Monastery near

Kherson Kherson (, ) is a port city of Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers appr ...

. Sergei Bondarchuk spent his childhood in the cities of

Yeysk Yeysk (russian: Ейск) is a port and a resort town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, situated on the shore of the Taganrog Gulf of the Sea of Azov. The town is built primarily on the Yeysk Spit, which separates the Yeya River from the Sea of Azo ...

and

Taganrog Taganrog ( rus, Таганрог, p=təɡɐnˈrok) is a port city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, on the north shore of the Taganrog Bay in the Sea of Azov, several kilometers west of the mouth of the Don River. Population: History of Taganrog The ...

, graduating from the Taganrog School Number 4 in 1938. His first performance as an actor was onstage of the

Taganrog Theatre The Taganrog Drama Theater named after Anton Chekhov and decorated with Order of Honor (Russian Federation), Order of Honor (russian: Таганрогский ордена Почёта драматический театр имени А.П.Чех� ...

in 1937. He continued studies in the

Rostov-on-Don Rostov-on-Don ( rus, Ростов-на-Дону, r=Rostov-na-Donu, p=rɐˈstof nə dɐˈnu) is a port city and the administrative centre of Rostov Oblast and the Southern Federal District of Russia. It lies in the southeastern part of the East Eu ...

theater school (1938–1942). After his studies, he was conscripted into the

during World War II against

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

. He was decorated for his courage in battles and was discharged with honors in 1946.

Film career

In 1948, Bondarchuk made his film debut in '' The Young Guard'' directed by Sergei Gerasimov. In 1952, he was awarded the

Stalin Prize Stalin Prize may refer to: * The State Stalin Prize in science and engineering and in arts, awarded 1941 to 1954, later known as the USSR State Prize The USSR State Prize (russian: links=no, Государственная премия СССР, ...

for the leading role in the film ''Taras Shevchenko''. At the age of 32, he became the youngest Soviet actor ever to receive the top dignity of

. In 1955, he starred with his future wife

Irina Skobtseva Irina Konstantinovna Skobtseva (russian: Ирина Константиновна Скобцева; 22 August 1927 – 20 October 2020) was a Soviet and Russian actress and second wife of Sergei Bondarchuk. Biography Irina Konstantinovna Skobtsev ...

in ''

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...

''. In 1959, he made his directorial debut with ''

Fate of a Man ''Fate of a Man'' (russian: Судьба человека, translit. Sudba Cheloveka), also released as ''A Man's Destiny'' and ''Destiny of a Man'' is a 1959 Soviet film adaptation of the short story by Mikhail Sholokhov, and also the directori ...

'', based on Mikhail Sholokhov's short story of the same name. The film was internationally acclaimed upon its release. Bondarchuk earned international fame with his epic production of

Tolstoy Count Lev Nikolayevich TolstoyTolstoy pronounced his first name as , which corresponds to the romanization ''Lyov''. () (; russian: link=no, Лев Николаевич Толстой,In Tolstoy's day, his name was written as in pre-refor ...

's ''

'', which on original release totaled more than seven hours of cinema, took six years to complete and won Bondarchuk, who both directed and acted the role of

, the

in 1968. The year after his victory, in 1969, he starred as Martin with

Yul Brynner Yuliy Borisovich Briner (russian: link=no, Юлий Борисович Бринер; July 11, 1920 – October 10, 1985), known professionally as Yul Brynner, was a Russian-born actor. He was best known for his portrayal of King Mongkut in th ...

and

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

in the Yugoslav epic ''

Battle of Neretva Case White (german: Fall Weiss), also known as the Fourth Enemy Offensive ( sh, Četvrta neprijateljska ofenziva/ofanziva), was a combined Axis strategic offensive launched against the Yugoslav Partisans throughout occupied Yugoslavia during W ...

'', directed by

Veljko Bulajic Veljko (Cyrillic script: Вељко) is a masculine given name of Slavic origin. It may refer to: *FK Hajduk Veljko, Serbian football club based in Negotin, Serbia * Hajduk Veljko Petrović (1780–1813), Vojvoda of the First Serbian Uprising rebel ...

. His first English-language film was 1970's '' Waterloo'', produced by

Dino De Laurentiis Agostino "Dino" De Laurentiis (; 8 August 1919 – 10 November 2010) was an Italian-American film producer. Along with Carlo Ponti, he was one of the producers who brought Italian cinema to the international scene at the end of World War II. He ...

. In Europe, the critics called it remarkable for the epic battle scenes and details in capturing the

Napoleonic era The Napoleonic era is a period in the history of France and Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly, the second being the Legislative ...

. However, it failed at the box office. To prevent running into hurdles with the Soviet government, he joined the

Communist Party A communist party is a political party that seeks to realize the socio-economic goals of communism. The term ''communist party'' was popularized by the title of ''The Manifesto of the Communist Party'' (1848) by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. A ...

in 1970. A year later, he was appointed president of the Union of Cinematographers, while he continued his directing career, steering toward

political films Political cinema, in the narrow sense of that portray current or historical events or social conditions through a partisan perspective in order to inform or to agitate the spectator. Political cinema exists in different forms, such as documenta ...

, directing '' Boris Godunov'' before being dismissed from the semi-governmental post in 1986. In 1973, he was the president of the Jury at the

8th Moscow International Film Festival The 8th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 10 to 23 July 1973. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Soviet film '' That Sweet Word: Liberty!'' directed by Vytautas Žalakevičius and the Bulgarian film '' Affection'' directed by L ...

. In 1975, he directed '' They Fought for Their Country'', which was entered into the 1975 Cannes Film Festival. In 1982 came '' Red Bells'', based on John Reed's ''

Ten Days That Shook the World ''Ten Days That Shook the World'' (1919) is a book by the American journalist and socialist John Reed. Here, Reed presented a firsthand account of the 1917 Russian October Revolution. Reed followed many of the most prominent Bolsheviks closely ...

'' (which serves as the film's alternative title). His 1986 film '' Boris Godunov'' was also screened at

Cannes Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions I ...

that year. Bondarchuk's last feature film, and his second in English, was an epic TV version of Sholokhov's '' And Quiet Flows the Don'', starring

Rupert Everett Rupert James Hector Everett (; born 29 May 1959) is an English actor, director and producer. Everett first came to public attention in 1981 when he was cast in Julian Mitchell's play and subsequent film '' Another Country'' (1984) as a gay pupi ...

. It was filmed in 1992–1993 but premiered on Channel One only in November 2006, as there were disputes concerning the Italian studio that was co-producing over unfavorable clauses in his contract, which left the tapes locked in a bank vault. After his death, the film remained locked for several years until it was recovered and released in 2006. In 1995, he was posthumously awarded an honorable diploma for contribution to cinema at the 19th Moscow International Film Festival.

Personal life

He first married

Inna Makarova Inna Vladimirovna Makarova (russian: И́нна Влади́мировна Мака́рова; 28 July 1926 – 25 March 2020) was a Soviet and Russian actress. She grew up in Novosibirsk. In 1948 she graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Ci ...

, mother to his oldest daughter,

Natalya Bondarchuk Natalya Sergeyevna Bondarchuk (russian: Наталья Серге́евна Бондарчук) (born 10 May 1950) is a Soviet Union, Soviet and Russian actress and film director, best known for her appearance in Andrei Tarkovsky's ''Solaris (1972 ...

(born 1950). Natalya is remembered for her role in

Andrei Tarkovsky Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky ( rus, Андрей Арсеньевич Тарковский, p=ɐnˈdrʲej ɐrˈsʲenʲjɪvʲɪtɕ tɐrˈkofskʲɪj; 4 April 1932 – 29 December 1986) was a Russian filmmaker. Widely considered one of the greates ...

's 1972 film ''

Solaris Solaris may refer to: Arts and entertainment Literature, television and film * ''Solaris'' (novel), a 1961 science fiction novel by Stanisław Lem ** ''Solaris'' (1968 film), directed by Boris Nirenburg ** ''Solaris'' (1972 film), directed by ...

''. He met his second wife

when both were appearing in ''

'', and they married in 1959. They had two children, actress

Yelena Bondarchuk Yelena Sergeyevna Bondarchuk (russian: Еле́на Серге́евна Бондарчу́к; 31 July 1962 – 7 November 2009) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actress. Biography She was one of three children born to actors Sergei Bond ...

(1962–2009) and a son

Fyodor Fyodor, Fedor (russian: Фёдор) or Feodor is the Russian form of the name "Theodore (given name), Theodore" meaning “God’s Gift”. Fedora () is the feminine form. Fyodor and Fedor are two English transliterations of the same Russian name. ...

(born 1967), (who starred with him in ''Boris Godunov''), a popular Russian film actor and director best known for his box-office hit ''

The 9th Company ''The 9th Company'' (russian: 9 рота, 9 rota) is a 2005 Russian war film directed by Fedor Bondarchuk and set during the Soviet–Afghan War. The film is loosely based on a real-life battle that took place at Elevation 3234 in early 1988, d ...

'' (2005).

Death

Sergei Bondarchuk died on October 20, 1994 at the age of 74 in Moscow from myocardial infarction. Before his death, he was confessed and given communion by Hieromonk Tikhon (Shevkunov). He is buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow. In June 2007, his ex-wife

unveiled a bronze statue of Bondarchuk in his native

Honours and awards

, 1st class (1952) – for the main role in the film ''Taras Shevchenko'' and the role of Sergei Tutarinov in ''Knight of the Golden Star'' (1950) * Lenin Prize (1960) – for the film ''The Destiny of Man'' (1959) *

(1968) – for the film ''War and Peace'' *

Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR The Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR was an annual State Prize established by the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR in 1965. Three Vasilyev Brothers prizes were awarded annually from 1966 until 1990 for cinematographic works of all kinds ( ...

(1977) – for the film ''They Fought for Their Country'' * Hero of Socialist Labour (1980) *

Shevchenko National Prize Shevchenko National Prize ( uk, Націона́льна пре́мія Украї́ни і́мені Тараса́ Шевче́нка; also ''Shevchenko Award'') is the highest state prize of Ukraine for works of culture and arts awarded since ...

(1982) – for his performance as Cardinal Montanelli in the film ''The Gadfly'' (1980) *

USSR State Prize The USSR State Prize (russian: links=no, Государственная премия СССР, Gosudarstvennaya premiya SSSR) was the Soviet Union's state honor. It was established on 9 September 1966. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, t ...

(1984) – for the film ''Red Bells'' *

Order of Lenin The Order of Lenin (russian: Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina, ), named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was established by the Central Executive Committee on April 6, 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration b ...

, twice *

Order of the October Revolution The Order of the October Revolution (russian: Орден Октябрьской Революции, ''Orden Oktyabr'skoy Revolyutsii'') was instituted on October 31, 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was conferr ...

Order of the Patriotic War The Order of the Patriotic War (russian: Орден Отечественной войны, Orden Otechestvennoy voiny) is a Soviet military decoration that was awarded to all soldiers in the Soviet armed forces, security troops, and to partisan ...

, 2nd class *

Order of the Red Banner of Labour The Order of the Red Banner of Labour (russian: Орден Трудового Красного Знамени, translit=Orden Trudovogo Krasnogo Znameni) was an order of the Soviet Union established to honour great deeds and services to th ...

Honored Artist of the RSFSR Honored Artist of the RSFSR (, ''Zasluzhenny artist RSFSR'') was an honorary title granted to Soviet artists, including theatre and film directors, choreographers, music performers, and orchestra conductors, who had outstanding achievements in the ...

(1951) *

(1952)

Filmography

;Writer * '' Battle of Sutjeska'' (1973)

References

External links

* *
''War and Peace'' of Sergei Bondarchuk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bondarchuk, Sergei 1920 births 1994 deaths People from Kherson Oblast Communist Party of the Soviet Union members Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography alumni Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography faculty Sergei Directors of Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award winners Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Heroes of Socialist Labour Honored Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the USSR Stalin Prize winners Lenin Prize winners Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Recipients of the Shevchenko National Prize Recipients of the USSR State Prize Recipients of the Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR Male Shakespearean actors Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic people Russian film directors Russian male film actors Russian male voice actors 20th-century Russian screenwriters Male screenwriters 20th-century Russian male writers Soviet film directors Soviet male film actors Soviet male voice actors Soviet military personnel of World War II from Ukraine Soviet screenwriters Ukrainian film directors Ukrainian male film actors Ukrainian screenwriters Ukrainian male voice actors Burials at Novodevichy Cemetery