Bondarchuk. Battle

The new film about Sergei Bondarchuk is not a traditional description of the life of a famous director and not a biopic timed to coincide with a round date. The creators of the film focus on a unique period in the history of world cinema - the post-war "thaw" euphoria and the time of great hopes, the key character of which was the author of "War and Peace". What was this man and cinematographer who shot both chamber dramas and megalomaniac battle projects? And how did he, the winner of many USSR awards, manage to become a figure of world significance and a link between the two superpowers during the Cold War era?

Directed by Ilya Belov, Bondarchuk. Battle leans on a strong ensemble — Sergey Bondarchuk, Christopher Plummer, Nikita Mikhalkov — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2021.