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A remake of a 1972 Russian film has been tickling a generation's collective memory since hitting China's big screens on Tuesday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of victory in World War II.
The Dawns Here are Quiet tells the story of a senior sergeant of Soviet Red Army and five female anti-aircraft gunners, who courageously fight invading German troops in 1942.
The movie, nominated for the Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category, is based on an eponymous 1960s novella.
"No matter how many times Shakespeare's or Chekhov's works' are moved to screens, people will not be bored," the remake's director Renat Davletyarov told China Daily in Beijing last week. "That's the power of a classic."
The 54-year-old grandson of a Red Army fighter in the war is disheartened that the Russian cinema milestone is little-known among today's youth.
Davletyarov was initially hesitant to venture into the genre, since his previous works are comedies and family dramas.
But when he read that 85 percent of Russians between age 14 and 25 had never read the book nor seen the movie, the reboot became a calling.
"I would rather not call it 'remaking'," he says. "It's a newborn production."
The new film is more faithful to the novella than the original film, he says.
It maintains the sullen tone of the book's start - the film instead focused on the protagonist's initial happiness.
But he wrote an entirely new ending. Rather than finishing with Vaskov recalling war stories in front of tombs as did previous versions, the new film signs off by showing five new women signing up for the military. The director believes this reminds people war's cruelty continues despite sacrifice.
"Wartime stories are the best reflections of human nature. Sentimental emotions are easily stirred through war films," he says.
The genre remains popular in Russia.
For instance, Stalingrad (2013) set several box-office records in the country. It was also shown at Chinese cinemas that year.
Davletyarov laments the dearth of new WWII films. He attributes it to insufficient investment, which, in turn, doesn't afford for spectacular battle scenes.
His adaptation of The Dawns Here are Quiet - considered alongside Battle for Sevastopol to be Russia's most important war film this year - had a $5 million budget.
"At least Russian World War II-related films represent another perspective, other than Hollywood productions, to represent history. Without grandiose battle scenes, we can also explore people's spiritual worlds."
But the director is delighted The Dawns Here are Quiet has made a splash in China.
In 2005, China Central Television made a 19-episode TV series adaption. Both the 1972 film and the subsequent TV version got 8.6 out of 10 points on Douban.com, one of China's top film-review websites.
"The 1972 film opened the door for us to expect almighty heroes in our own (Chinese) war films," Chinese Film Literature Association vice-president Zhao Baohua says, recalling when the movie came to China in the '80s.
"The pursuit of love and deep human emotions are condensed against the backdrop of war, which was fresh for Chinese cinema, since it had just stepped out of the 'cultural revolution' (1966-76)."
Zhao attributes the styles of '80s China's war flicks to The Dawns Here are Quiet and comparable Soviet movies.
"Soviet war films should remain important references for Chinese filmmakers and TV producers," he says.
The new film premiered at a ceremony at the Russian embassy in Beijing, where popular Chinese singer Chang Shilei sang the film's theme song in Chinese.
Davletyarov believes the historical experience in fighting Fascism that China and Russia share offers ample ground for contemporary cooperation among filmmakers of the two countries.
He points to Soviet fighting against Japan's Kwantung Army in Northeast China.
"That period of history has much potential to be developed into a co-produced war epic," he says.
One that he hopes to create.
"I'll look for suitable Chinese (partners) to realize my dream."
wangkaihao@chinadaily.com.cn
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Senior sergeant Vaskov trains female soldiers as depicted in a scene from the film The Dawns Here are Quiet directed by Renat Davletyarov.Provided To China Daily |
