Beginning of an Unknown Era Poster

Beginning of an Unknown Era 1967

★ 5.615 votes73 min📅 1967-12-31

Andrey Smirnov's *Beginning of an Unknown Era* (1967) is a haunting exploration of Soviet history, blending war and drama into a cinematic time capsule.

Director: Andrey Smirnov

Cast

Leonid Kulagin
Leonid Kulagin
комиссар Парфенов (новелла «Ангел»)
Sergei Volf
Sergei Volf
интеллигент (новелла «Ангел»)
Nikolai Gubenko
Nikolai Gubenko
человек с коровой (новелла «Ангел»)
Georgi Burkov
Georgi Burkov
студент (новелла «Ангел»)
Igor Klass
Igor Klass
атаман Ангел (новелла «Ангел»)
Yevgeni Goryunov
Степан Жаренов (озв. Валерий Носик) («Родина электричества»)
Sergei Gorbatyuk
Гриня (озв. Сергей Никоненко) («Родина электричества»)
Ivan Turchenkov
Ivan Turchenkov
сотрудник губисполкома («Родина электричества»)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Beginning of an Unknown Era (1967) about?

Andrey Smirnov's film adapts two banned short stories set in the post-revolutionary Soviet era, blending war and drama into a censored masterpiece. The first tale, *Angel*, reflects on the era's brutality, while the second, *The Homeland of Electricity*, captures its eerie, surreal atmosphere. Both stories were suppressed for decades, mirroring the film's own fate.

Who directed Beginning of an Unknown Era?

Andrey Smirnov directed *Beginning of an Unknown Era*, crafting a visually striking homage to censored Soviet literature.

Who stars in Beginning of an Unknown Era?

The film features a talented cast including Leonid Kulagin, Sergei Volf, Nikolai Gubenko, Georgi Burkov, and Igor Klass.

Is Beginning of an Unknown Era (1967) worth watching?

While unrated on IMDb, this historical drama offers a rare glimpse into Soviet-era storytelling, combining literary depth with cinematic boldness. Fans of war dramas and intellectual cinema will appreciate its thematic richness and artistic vision.

How long is Beginning of an Unknown Era?

The runtime for *Beginning of an Unknown Era* is 73 minutes.

About Beginning of an Unknown Era (1967) — Forgotten Soviet Stories Revealed

Andrey Smirnov's *Beginning of an Unknown Era* (1967) is a haunting exploration of Soviet history, blending war and drama into a cinematic time capsule. This bold film weaves together two banned short stories by Russian literary giants Yury Olesha and Anton Platonov, both set in the turbulent post-revolutionary period. Smirnov's direction infuses the narrative with a sense of suppressed urgency, mirroring how the film itself was locked away for two decades due to censorship. The atmosphere is one of grim nostalgia and surreal grotesquery, where the past lingers like a shadow over the present. With themes of brutality and resilience, *Beginning of an Unknown Era* captures the fractured spirit of an era forgotten by time.

Starring Leonid Kulagin, Sergei Volf, and Nikolai Gubenko, the film's ensemble brings depth to its dual tales. Olesha's *Angel* unfolds as a tragic lament for a lost generation, while Platonov's *The Homeland of Electricity* paints a hallucinatory portrait of a world in flux. Smirnov's vision transforms literary obscurity into a visceral experience, making this a must-watch for fans of Soviet-era cinema and historical dramas alike.