''Taras Shevchenko'' is a 1951 Soviet

biopic A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...

about the Ukrainian writer

Taras Shevchenko Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko ( uk, Тарас Григорович Шевченко , pronounced without the middle name; – ), also known as Kobzar Taras, or simply Kobzar (a kobzar is a bard in Ukrainian culture), was a Ukraine, Ukrainian p ...

, written and directed by

Igor Savchenko Igor Andreyevich Savchenko (russian: Игорь Андреевич Са́вченко) or Ihor Andriyovych Savchenko ( uk, І́гор Андрі́йович Са́вченко; 11 October 1906 – 14 December 1950) was a screenwriter and film di ...

. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' praised the acting of

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

Synopsis

Summer 1841.

Lermontov Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov (; russian: Михаи́л Ю́рьевич Ле́рмонтов, p=mʲɪxɐˈil ˈjurʲjɪvʲɪtɕ ˈlʲɛrməntəf; – ) was a Russian Romantic writer, poet and painter, sometimes called "the poet of the Caucas ...

is killed. The news of this arrives to a modest attic of the

Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts The Russian Academy of Arts, informally known as the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts, was an art academy in Saint Petersburg, founded in 1757 by the founder of the Imperial Moscow University Ivan Shuvalov under the name ''Academy of the Thre ...

, where lives and works the young artist and poet Taras Shevchenko. Growing up in a

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 ...

peasant family, knowing all hardships of

serf Serfdom was the status of many peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism, and similar systems. It was a condition of debt bondage and indentured servitude with similarities to and differences from slavery, which developed ...

life, Shevchenko in the years of study clearly identifies the meaning of true art, which is to serve the interests of the people. After graduating from the Academy, Shevchenko goes to Ukraine. The poems of Taras are imbued with love for the common people. Landowner-nationalists, liberal leaders of the Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood, try to "tame" the famous poet, but Shevchenko forever has made his choice; he is on the side of the people, their defender and crooner. The fiery freedom-loving creativity of Taras Shevchenko is known throughout Russia. Nicholas I exiles the poet to the distant

Caspian Caspian can refer to: *The Caspian Sea *The Caspian Depression, surrounding the northern part of the Caspian Sea *The Caspians, the ancient people living near the Caspian Sea *Caspian languages, collection of languages and dialects of Caspian peopl ...

fort where he is to serve as an ordinary soldier and is banned from writing or drawing. In the poet's difficult days he has the support of Ukrainian soldier Skobelev, Polish revolutionary Serakovsky, captain Kosarev and the major of the fortress, Uskov. For the sake of his release

Chernyshevsky Nikolay Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky ( – ) was a Russian literary and social critic, journalist, novelist, democrat, and socialist philosopher, often identified as a utopian socialist and leading theoretician of Russian nihilism. He was t ...

and Dobrolyubov are hard at work. And so, the sick and aged Shevchenko is finally free. Together with Chernyshevsky and Dobrolyubov, he dreams of a bright future of the motherland, when the Russian and Ukrainian peoples throw off the chains of slavery.

Awards

Sergei Bondarchuk won 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 Stalin Peace Prize, awarded 1949 to 1955, later known as the Lenin Peace Prize The Int ...

and the Best Actor Award at the

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival ( cs, Mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary) is a film festival held annually in July in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The Karlovy Vary Festival is one of the oldest in the world and has become ...

for his acting.

Cast

Vladimir Chestnokov Vladimir Ivanovich Chestnokov (russian: Владимир Иванович Честноко́в; (30 March) 12 April 1904, St. Petersburg – 15 May 1968, Leningrad) was a Soviet film and theater actor, theater teacher. People's Artist of the USSR (1 ...

Nikolay Chernyshevsky Nikolay Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky ( – ) was a Russian literary and social critic, journalist, novelist, democrat, and socialist philosopher, often identified as a utopian socialist and leading theoretician of Russian nihilism. He was t ...

Nikolai Timofeyev Nikolai or Nikolay is an East Slavic variant of the masculine name Nicholas. It may refer to: People Royalty * Nicholas I of Russia (1796–1855), or Nikolay I, Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855 * Nicholas II of Russia (1868–1918), or Niko ...

Nikolay Dobrolyubov Nikolay Alexandrovich Dobrolyubov ( rus, Никола́й Алекса́ндрович Добролю́бов, p=nʲɪkɐˈlaj ɐlʲɪˈksandrəvʲɪtɕ dəbrɐˈlʲubəf, a=Nikolay Alyeksandrovich Dobrolyubov.ru.vorb.oga; 5 February Old_Style_a ...

Hnat Yura Hnat Petrovych Yura ( uk, Гнат Петрович Юра, ; also Gnat Yura; – January 18, 1966) was a Soviet and Ukrainian director, actor of theatre and film, pedagogue. He directed two films, and appeared on screen six times during the ...

Mikhail Shchepkin , birth_date = , birth_place = Krasnoe, Kursk Province, Russian Empire , death_date = (aged 64) , death_place = Yalta, Russian Empire , resting_place = , occupation = Actor , language = Russian , nationality = Russian , period = ...

Ivan Pereverzev Ivan Fyodorovich Pereverzev (russian: Ива́н Фёдорович Переве́рзев; 3 September 1914 – 23 April 1978) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. People's Artist of the USSR (1975). Filmography * '' The Convey ...

Zygmunt Sierakowski Zygmunt Sierakowski ( be, Зігмунт Ігнатавіч Серакоўскі, lt, Zigmantas Sierakauskas) (19 May 1826, Lisów – 27 June 1863, Vilnius) was a Polish leader of the January Uprising in lands of the former Grand Duchy of Lithu ...

Yevgeny Samoylov Yevgeny Valerianovich Samoilov (russian: Евгений Валерианович Самойлов) (16 April 1912 in St. Petersburg – 17 February 2006 in Moscow) was a Soviet actor who gained prominence in youthful heroic parts and was named a ...

Nikolay Speshnev Nikolay Alexandrovich Speshnev (Russian: Николай Александрович Спе́шнев; 1821, Kursk - 1882, St. Petersburg) was a 19th-century Russian aristocrat and political activist, best known for his involvement with the pro-socia ...

* Lavrenty Masokha as

Mykola Kostomarov Mykola Ivanovych Kostomarov or Nikolai Ivanovich Kostomarov (russian: Никола́й Ива́нович Костома́ров, ; uk, Микола Іванович Костомаров, ; May 16, 1817, vil. Yurasovka, Voronezh Governorate, R ...

Pavel Shpringfeld Pavel (Bulgarian, Russian, Serbian and Macedonian: Павел, Czech, Slovene, Romanian: Pavel, Polish: Paweł, Ukrainian: Павло, Pavlo) is a male given name. It is a Slavic cognate of the name Paul (derived from the Greek Pavlos). Pavel ...

Panteleimon Kulish Panteleimon Oleksandrovych Kulish (also spelled ''Panteleymon'' or ''Pantelejmon Kuliš'', uk, Пантелеймон Олександрович Куліш, August 7, 1819 – February 14, 1897) was a Ukrainian writer, critic, poet, folklori ...

Aleksey Konsovsky Aleksey Anatolyevich Konsovsky (russian: Алексей Анатольевич Консовский; 28 January 1912 – 20 July 1991) was a Soviet and Russian film, stage and voice actor. People's Artist of the RSFSR (1976). Biography He wa ...

Vladimir Kurochkin Vladimir Stepanovich Kurochkin (Владимир Степанович Курочкин; 6 February 1829, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire, - 20 April 1885, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire) was a Russian dramatist, translator, editor and publisher. ...

Grigory Shpigel Grigory Oyzerovich Spiegel (russian: Григо́рий О́йзерович Шпи́гель; 24 July 1914 — 28 April 1981) was a Soviet and Russian actor and voice actor. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1974). Biography He worked as a pleater at ...

Karl Bryullov Karl Pavlovich Bryullov (russian: Карл Па́влович Брюлло́в; 12 December 1799 – 11 June 1852), original name Charles Bruleau, also transliterated Briullov and Briuloff, and referred to by his friends as "Karl the Great", was a ...

* Mikhail Nazvanov as

Nicholas I of Russia Nicholas I , group=pron ( – ) was List of Russian rulers, Emperor of Russia, Congress Poland, King of Congress Poland and Grand Duke of Finland. He was the third son of Paul I of Russia, Paul I and younger brother of his predecessor, Alexander I ...

Mark Bernes Mark Naumovich Bernes (russian: link=no, Ма́рк Нау́мович Берне́с) (,This date: – is a mistake found in the '' Great Soviet Encyclopaedia''. True date: – was engraved on the Bernes's gravestone at Novodevichy Cemeter ...

as captain Kosarev * Dmitri Milyutenko as major Uskov * Marianna Strizhenova as Agafia Uskova * Mikhail Kuznetsov as soldier Skobelev *

Natalia Uzhviy Natalia Mykhailivna Uzhviy ( uk, Наталія Михайлівна Ужвій; 22 or 29 July 1986) was a Ukrainian actress. Biography Natalia Uzhviy was born on 8 September 1898 in Liuboml and was the oldest of 7 children. Works T ...

as Yarina Shevchenko * Mikhail Troyanovsky as chief of gendarmes *

Alexander Khvylya Alexander Leopoldovich Khvylya (born Bressem, russian: Александр Леопольдович Хвыля, uk, Олександр Леопольдович Хвиля, ''Oleksandr Leopoldovych Khvylya''; 15 July 1905 – 17 October 1976) was ...

as Lord Barabash * Garen Zhukovskaya as Lady Barabash * Mikhail Vysotsky as Yevdokim Appolonovich Lukashevich *

Gennady Yudin Gennady Petrovich Yudin (russian: Геннадий Петрович Юдин; 27 March 1923, Moscow – 13 November 1989, Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. Laureate of Stalin Prize (1951). Filmography * ''The Russian Question' ...

as agitator *

Leonid Kmit Leonid Aleksandrovich Kmit (born Aleksei Aleksandrovich Kmita; russian: Алексей Александрович Кмита́; 9 March 1908 – 11 March 1982) was a Soviet and Russian actor. In 1931 he graduated from Saint Petersburg State Thea ...

as staff captain Obryadin * Aleksandr Baranov as Potapov *

Konstantin Sorokin The first name Konstantin () is a derivation from the Latin name ''Constantinus'' (Constantine) in some European languages, such as Russian and German. As a Christian given name, it refers to the memory of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great. ...

as ginger corporal *

Vladimir Soshalsky Vladimir Borisovich Soshalsky (russian: Владимир Борисович Сошальский; 14 June 1929 in Leningrad, USSR — 10 October 2007 in Moscow, Russia) was a Soviet and Russian film and theater actor. People's Artist of the RSFSR ...

as ensign Nikolai Mombelli, Shevchenko's friend *

Latif Fayziyev Lieutenant General Latif Mirzoevich Fayziyev ( tg, Латиф Мирзоевич Файзиев), also known by his persianized name Latifjon Mirzo Faizizoda, is a lieutenant general in the armed forces of Tajikistan. From 2006 to 2014, he wa ...

as Kyrgyz *

Stanislav Chekan Stanislav Yulianovich Chekan (russian: Станисла́в Юлиа́нович Чека́н; 2 June 1922, Rostov-on-Don — 11 August 1994, Moscow) was a Soviet actor of theater and cinema, known primarily for his blue-collar manly appearance, a ...

as cabby *

Stepan Shkurat Stepan ( uk, Степань; pl, Stepań; he, סטפאן) is an urban-type settlement in Sarny Raion (district) of Rivne Oblast (province) in western Ukraine. Its population was 4,073 as of the 2001 Ukrainian Census. Current population: The ...

as serf bandura player * Dmitry Kapka as priest *

Vyacheslav Tikhonov Vyacheslav Vasilyevich Tikhonov (russian: Вячесла́в Васи́льевич Ти́хонов; 8 February 1928, in Pavlovsky Posad – 4 December 2009, in Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian actor whose best known role was as Soviet spy, S ...

as representative of the Petersburg youth * Ivan Savkin as representative of the Petersburg youth *

Marina Ladynina Marina Alekseyevna Ladynina (russian: Мари́на Алексе́евна Лады́нина; June 24 .s. 11 1908 in Skotinino, Smolensk, Russian Empire – March 10, 2003 in Moscow, Russian Federation) was a popular Soviet film and theatre ...

as Countess Pototskaya *

Nikolai Grinko Nikolai Grigoryevich Grinko or Mykola Hryhorovych Hrynko ( uk, Микола Григорович Гринько; russian: Никола́й Григо́рьевич Гринько́; 22 May 1920, Kherson – 10 April 1989, Kyiv was a Soviet ...

as serf-rebel *

Vladimir Troshin Vladimir Konstantinovich Troshin (russian: Влади́мир Константи́нович Тр́ошин; 15 May 1926 – 25 February 2008) was a Soviet Union, Soviet and Russian film and theater actor and singer. In 1951, at the age of 25, for ...

as serf-rebel * Anatoly Chemodurov as student *

Oleg Golubitsky Oleg (russian: Олег), Oleh ( uk, Олег), or Aleh ( be, Алег) is an East Slavic given name. The name is very common in Russia, Ukraine and Belаrus. It derives from the Old Norse ''Helgi'' ( Helge), meaning "holy", "sacred", or "blesse ...

as student *

Vsevolod Sanayev Vsevolod Vasilyevich Sanayev (Все′волод Васи′льевич Сана′ев; 25 2, o.s.February 1912 in Tula, Russian Empire – 27 January 1996 in Moscow, Russia) was a Soviet film and stage actor popular in the 1960s–1970s. Sana ...

as episode

References

External links

* 1950s biographical drama films Soviet biographical drama films Ukrainian-language films Taras Shevchenko Films directed by Igor Savchenko Films directed by Aleksandr Alov Films directed by Vladimir Naumov Films set in 1841 Films set in the Russian Empire Films set in Saint Petersburg Ukrainian biographical films 1951 drama films Cultural depictions of Nicholas I of Russia Biographical films about writers Ukrainian drama films Soviet-era Ukrainian films {{bio-film-stub