A drama about valor and courage with Belarusian and Russian actors: visited the set of the film “The Officer’s Word”

A historical drama with elements of a detective is being prepared for the anniversary of the Belarusian police. The multi-part film, consisting of three seasons of eight episodes, will be released on TV in the spring. The project will tell about the life of police officers and their families, professional duty and honor. There will be a place for action scenes, chasing criminals, love and friendship. On the set of a promising novelty was visited by correspondents sb.by.

The first season covers the period from 1941 to 1986. The focus is on the Vladimir dynasty. This is a collective image of the family from which the heroes of the Belarusian police come, said the director of the film Agata Motsko:

- The dynasty begins with policeman Alexei Vladimirov. It has a real prototype. Under the command of an officer with the same name during the Great Patriotic War, soldiers heroically defended Mogilev. The postulates and heroism that this combined battalion fought provided the basis for the film. The main character is a young guy whom we meet as a cadet of the police school. He's 22. By the end of the season, he is already in high rank, with children and grandchildren.

The film is being prepared by order of the Ministry of Culture, its implementation is carried out by the national film studio Belarusfilm with the participation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The script was written by several authors, including Agatha Motsko, who wrote the general concept of the project for which the writers were selected:

- The main part of the script was prepared by debutante Valery Solovyov. On the first series and partly on the second worked Valentin Zaluzhny - one of the mastodons in the script art. The script was read out by MIA staff. Especially carefully everything related to the topic of the search or investigation of crimes. On the subject of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was consulted by employees who were directly in this zone. On the set is constantly present one of the employees of the internal affairs agencies – either active or veterans, who have watched many events unfold and who know how the Soviet system of investigations was born.

- We have a clear focus: we shoot about Belarus, so the history of the country, which is displayed, turns out to be interesting and lively, said Agata Motsko.

- Filmmakers have the expression “densely populated series”. Since we are going through 5-6 historical epochs, the hero cannot come into contact with the same people in 1941 and 1986. Each era brings new heroes. We have about 260 of them. For the most part, this is a series about men, the main characters and accompanying characters are men, so there is a certain challenge and difficulty in choosing actors for roles. In the film, there are also real historical characters – for example, one of the leaders of the guerrilla movement in the Belarusian SSR Peter Zakharovich Kalinin, Minister of State Security Lavrentiy Fomich Tsanava and Minister of Internal Affairs Sergey Savvich Belchenko. They were looking for actors with similarities.

The main role - Alexei Vladimirov - went to the Russian actor Kirill Kuznetsov, known for his roles in TV series and films of different genres - from melodramas to historical and spy projects. The masters are also involved - Vladimir Mishchanchuk and Vladimir Gostyukhin. Agatha Motzko said:

- For a director, it is a big dream to work with such actors in the frame. There's an episode in the movie about a veteran. The events take place at the junction of the 1960s-1970s, when youth pop cultures, hippies, appear. And the feats of veterans are slowly beginning to be forgotten. With one of these veterans and there is a significant case. I wanted the image to embody Vladimir Vasilyevich Gostyukhin and asked the casting director to contact him. We’ve known each other before and worked in movies. Given the fact that he officially announced, as I was told, the end of his film career, his agreement added inspiration, but also excitement. I knew the episode needed to be reinforced to make it interesting for him to play. Together with the legendary actor, young people were filmed, and he told everyone how to work on the camera, how to behave. When it was over, he said, “We made this scene.” What he likes is expensive.

- We have a lot of locations, about 180, and the weather is not always good. Many problems have to be solved on the go, so, coming to the place, we always have not only plan A, but also B and C. Such large-scale projects in Belarus, probably, did not do. To make it all work, the team lives on the project, spending more than 12 hours a day on the set. The schedule is not easy, in some ways the project is a challenge for each of us. The film raises the concept of duty, the words: if a person gave his word, what is behind this, what is the homeland, what parents are for us, we raise fundamental things.

- There is a difficult relationship between the hero and his son. He chose to go his own way and not depend on his father. This is the basis of our conflict. I wonder what will happen in the end. I think the film will find its audience. Something remotely similar in format, probably, "The meeting place cannot be changed." I watched this movie with pleasure. In any case, the project is worthy and bright. Whether something grandiose will turn out, the viewer will judge, but the team is giving everything to a hundred.

- At first my heroine is 20 years old, at the end – 65. On the screen, she will live a long life, catch the tragedy at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, where her son dies. Nastya is an incredibly strong person. At a young age, it is self-sufficient, with a rod, but lighter. When she marries a military man, she gradually becomes tougher and more enduring. As a mother, she sacrifices almost everything. Emotionally, this is a very difficult role. Getting chills. When I read the script, I knew it immediately. The heroine catches a war, saves her beloved, and in general she constantly has some kind of struggle. But all tests are carried out with dignity.

The film “Officer’s Word” will be released for the Day of Police. In March 2027, the department will celebrate its 110th anniversary.