A blockbusting epic has opened across Russia about the invasion of Polish forces during the seventeenth century. Called simply 1612, the movie focuses on 'The Time of Troubles', when succession to the Tsar's throne was thrown into doubt after the demise of the Rurik dynasty.
Michal Zebrowski, whose matinee idol looks have already served him well in Poland's own historical epics such as Pan Tadeusz and With Fire and Sword, has taken the lead Polish role in the Russian production. Moscow based film critic Tom Birchenough describes his performance as 'strong' and added that 'battle scenes, as well as reconstructions of historical cities, are impressive.'
The Poles eventually occupied Moscow, and unlike in Napoleon's conquest, the locals didn't burn the city to the ground. However, the Russians eventually expelled the invaders and installed the Romanov dynasty on the throne.
As of yet there's no news of the film's release on foreign shores, but curious viewers can watch a snippet at the link below. And yes, we're also wondering what those unicorns are up to....
Official Trailer of 1612 Film
|