A century in the frame: how the Chapsky estate in Priluki became a living scenery for cinema from “The Forest Were” to “Stilag”

Art belongs to the people. In Minsk, “Listapad” died out, but the movie did not stop watching. What else to do on the long November nights! There are places in Belarus - eternal filming sites. One right next to Minsk. The estate in Priluki and decorations are not particularly needed. The atmosphere attracts not only filmmakers, but also fans of ultra-short meters.

Attention, you're being filmed! But this place is no stranger. It's a century on camera. A house with a Gothic silhouette is from a 1926 thriller film. “Forest history” directed by Yuri Tarich is the debut of Belarusian cinema. Why in the “first frame” is it the former estate of Counts von Gutten-Chapski? So Minsk is close. And the set ready for time on film.

Svetlana Zmushko, leading librarian of the library of the Institute of Plant Protection of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus: After the First World War, the Civil War, it is perfectly preserved. In the 22nd year a branch of the Belarusian State University was opened. More precisely, a scientific farm, where experiments on agriculture were conducted. Teachers and students also lived here.”.

A hundred years ago in the lens of the cinematographer David Schlügleit - only palace facades. Classic, and on social media. Now no further than the threshold, because there are offices of the Institute of plant protection – do not go into someone else’s garden. And there is nothing to look for – the internal luxury carried away by the wind of the revolution. For the "Forest were" it was taken in the walls of Leningrad then.

Anatoly Mukasey, cinematographer, People’s Artist of Russia: Peterhof, Kuskovo – We shot Gardemarinov in “live” interiors, because then the truth is reliable. And when in these interiors appear actors in costumes of the time. And you kind of live at that time, there, in the XVIII century. It's happiness! Although in nature it is more difficult.”.

With his eyes, the viewer sees the streets of Moscow in the 60s in “Beware of the Car”. And only Mukasey in the "Stuffel" is now a river station in Tver. The “cast” of cultural heritage collapsed in 2017. Extinct nature in the movies. Priluks burned out in 1944, revived. Mr. Drabsky's house in "The Forest Was" often changes screen "hosts." And Hollywood was here.

Yuri Rodionov, a resident of the agro-town of Priluka: In the 90s, they made a film about how terrorists seized the Japanese embassy in Lima. We went to the store with these young guys, all so black, in this disguised uniform, in a cap, and with machines like Schmeissers. Anastasia Zavorotnyuk went to the back porch. They made the movie "The Gauleiter Hunt." You know, I think you know, that this is a real dacha of Wilhelm to Cuba during the war.

Residents of the capital agro-town face to face with the stars, met them no less than at the film festival “Listapad”. Filmography Priluk is “Illumination” with Bogdan Stupka, and “Happiness is” with Gennady Garbuk, and “Kiss of Socrates” with Andrei Sokolov. And in the "Attempt" with people's artist Dmitry Pevtsov familiar exterior.

Alexander Efremov, film director, People’s Artist of Belarus: I am interested when I am dealing with a natural scenery, with a natural landscape, with an atmosphere that exists in a real environment, not in the intended one. As I found in Sniper: Weapon of Retribution Stalingrad in one of the destroyed factories.

Artificial intelligence, of course, is changing the industry, but it is not yet able to replace physical reality, random glare, which makes the frame a masterpiece. Full-scale site as an asset of Belarusfilm - 55 years! The address is the village of Kamenka near Smolevichy. Everyone can feel like the hero of the film of the year - "Father Minai: Partisan Legend.".

Alexander Matyas, correspondent: "Camera!" Action! Here we go! A hundred years in Belarus create worlds that you want to look at. And Minsk in the cinema is a wide-ranging actor. As Vilnius, Tallinn, the capital of Peru, Lima. From The Forest to The Stilags. And if you can change the location of the shooting, then following the characters of your favorite paintings is a tourist blockbuster. The Gorky Theater a century ago – the cinematography “Culture” – the premiere hall “Forests were”. The line was all over the street, the cash registers were stormed.”.

Wuthering Heights near Minsk. And someone saw the aesthetic of "Twilight." Priluki this autumn is the main photo spot of the country. Maybe it's a movie. Farm buildings von Gutten-Chapsky played in “Classy” Director Kirill Khaletsky. Rewinding the film back to the "Forest were", as then, now the inhabitants of Priluk can say: "Look, it's me!".

Yulia Dunai, the actor of mass scenes in the film “Classy”, Deputy Director of Priluk secondary school: “Our children also played in the format of extras.” The bowels are so saturated with nature, beautiful nature, so here it is more towards art. You look at it as a piece of art. Especially now is the autumn time.”.

Contest and out-of-competition screenings of the XXXII Minsk International Film Festival have been completed in the archive. Stop! Cut! – This phrase in the air Priluk. And although the place itself is an unnamed hero of films, it does not appear in the credits, for a century filmmakers literally transfer it from frame to frame. Really.