The White Sun of the Desert main backdrop
The White Sun of the Desert main poster

The White Sun of the Desert

Visit website

7.3/10 • 145

1969-12-141h 23m

ActionDramaRomanceComedyAdventureWar

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...

Directors
Vladimir Motyl
Writters
Mark Zakharov, Valentin Ezhov
Editors
Mark Zakharov, Valentin Ezhov, V. Nesterova

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Anatoliy Kuznetsov

    Anatoliy Kuznetsov

    Фёдор Иванович Сухов, красноармеец

  2. Pavel Luspekayev

    Pavel Luspekayev

    Павел Артемьевич Верещагин, таможенник

  3. Spartak Mishulin

    Spartak Mishulin

    Саид

  4. Kakhi Kavsadze

    Kakhi Kavsadze

    Абдулла (озв. Михаил Волков)

  5. Raisa Kurkina

    Raisa Kurkina

    Настасья, жена Верещагина

  6. Nikolai Godovikov

    Nikolai Godovikov

    Петруха

  7. Tatyana Fedotova

    Tatyana Fedotova

    Гюльчатай (озв. Надежда Румянцева)

  8. Musa Dudayev

    Musa Dudayev

    Рахимов, красный командир (озв. Игорь Ефимов)

  9. Nikolai Badyev

    Nikolai Badyev

    Лебедев, хранитель музея (озв. Алексей Кожевников)

Reviews1

View Reviews
CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Dec 21, 2024

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.

Media

  • The White Sun of the Desert poster
  • The White Sun of the Desert poster

Recommendations

  • The Diamond Arm main backdrop

    The Diamond Arm

    7.8

  • Kin-dza-dza! main backdrop

    Kin-dza-dza!

    7.8

  • The Summit main backdrop

    The Summit

    5.9

  • True Friends main backdrop

    True Friends

    7.1

  • Blood Diner main backdrop

    Blood Diner

    5.4

  • The Tale of Tsar Saltan main backdrop

    The Tale of Tsar Saltan

    6.9

  • House of Flying Daggers main backdrop

    House of Flying Daggers

    7.3

  • Sapphire Blue main backdrop

    Sapphire Blue

    7.1

  • Kung Fury main backdrop

    Kung Fury

    7.5

  • Atlas main backdrop

    Atlas

    6.8

  • The Godfather Part III main backdrop

    The Godfather Part III

    7.4

  • The Secret Life of Walter Mitty main backdrop

    The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

    7.2

  • Moonlight main backdrop

    Moonlight

    7.4

  • The Breakfast Club main backdrop

    The Breakfast Club

    7.7

  • Troy main backdrop

    Troy

    7.2

  • The Great Gatsby main backdrop

    The Great Gatsby

    7.4

  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End main backdrop

    Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

    7.3

  • The Grand Budapest Hotel main backdrop

    The Grand Budapest Hotel

    8.0

  • Joker main backdrop

    Joker

    8.1

  • 2001: A Space Odyssey main backdrop

    2001: A Space Odyssey

    8.1

Status
Released
Original Language
Russian
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
civil wardesertred army1910s