The White Sun of the Desert

1969 1h 23m RU

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 189

ActionDramaAdventureWar

Synopsis

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The setting is the east shore of the Caspian Sea (today's Turkmenistan) where the Red Army soldier Fyodor Sukhov has been fighting the Civil War in Russian Asia for a number of years. After being hospitalised and then demobbed, he sets off home to join his wife, only to be caught up in a desert fight between a Red Army cavalry unit and Basmachi guerrillas. The cavalry unit commander, Rahimov, "convinces" Sukhov to help, temporarily, with the protection of abandoned women of the Basmachi guerrilla leader Abdullah's harem. Leaving a young Red Army soldier, Petrukha, to assist Sukhov with the task, Rahimov and his cavalry unit set out to pursue fleeing Abdullah.Sukhov and women from Abdullah's harem return to a nearby shore town. Soon, looking for a seaway across the border, Abdullah and his gang come to the same town...

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Anatoliy Kuznetsov
Sukhov
Pavel Luspekayev
Vereshchagin
Spartak Mishulin
Said
Kakhi Kavsadze
Abdulla
Raisa Kurkina
Nastasya
Nikolai Godovikov
Petrukha
Tatyana Fedotova
Gulchatai
Musa Dudayev
Rakhimov

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Vladimir Motyl
Writers: Valentin Ezhov, Rustam Ibragimbekov
Languages: Russian
Countries: Soviet Union

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

83 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

57 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Vladimir Motyl, shot by Eduard Rozovsky. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Isaac Schwarts. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor V. Nesterova shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Anatoliy Kuznetsov and Pavel Luspekayev and Spartak Mishulin carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0066565 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Vladimir Motyl directs. Eduard Rozovsky behind the camera. Isaac Schwarts scores. V. Nesterova cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Soviet Union. Dialogue in Russian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

183 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
257 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Vladimir Motyl, shot by Eduard Rozovsky. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Isaac Schwarts. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor V. Nesterova shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Anatoliy Kuznetsov and Pavel Luspekayev and Spartak Mishulin carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0066565 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Released under 11 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Eduard Rozovsky
Original score: Isaac Schwarts
Editing: V. Nesterova
Production design: Bella Manevich
Costume design: Vadim Lindenbaum
Makeup / hair: A. Kheyfits
Runtime: 83 min · 1h 23m
Status: Released
Original language: RU
Certification (US): 12+
IMDB: The White Sun of the Desert (1969)

Also by

Vladimir Motyl

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2024-12-21
★ 7/10
There's something quietly comedic about the scenario in which returning soldier "Sukhov" (Anatoliy Kuznetsov) finds himself. He's determined just to get home to some peace and quiet with his wife - whom we see in the opening few scenes - and settle down. Sadly for him, fate has other plans as he rescues "Sayid" (Spartak Mishulin) buried up to his neck in the sand and is soon embroiled in that's mans search for revenge as well as a battle between the pursuing Soviet army and a local freedom fighter called "Abdullah" (Kakhi Kavsadze). It's not so much the battle that he needs to fight that preoccupies our hero, but the latter man's harem of nine concubines whom he has abandoned in his flight, and whom "Sukhov" must keep safe - or as safe as he can! Meantime, these ladies assume that he is their new "husband" and so whilst he only has his heart set on returning home, well maybe that's not going to be so simple after all. This is an enjoyably characterful drama with a solid effort from Kuznetsov leading an ensemble cast that combines some combat scenes with a tiny bit of romance and an all important machine gun. It's a bit like a Gunga Din of the East type affair that's quickly paced with plenty of action, mischief and duplicity. These are all flawed folks - there are few saints here, though the permanently sozzled "Vereshchagin" (Pavel Luspekayev) does have something of the genie about his abilities to appear just when necessary, as does the rescued "Sayid". The desert photography sets the scene nicely and the whole film neatly contrasts the honourable and the absurd of humanity. All it really needs is a bit of Ennio Morricone. Worth a watch.

Production companies