Fragment of an Empire
(Oblomok imperii)
|
|
Original Poster
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| Country
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 USSR
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| Directed by
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Fridrikh Ermler
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| Release Date
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1929
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| Language
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Silent
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| Studio
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Sovkino
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| Main Cast
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| Character
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Actor
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| Filimonov
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Fyodor Nikitin
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| Natalya
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Lyudmila Semyonova
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| Natalya's new husband
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Valeri Solovtsov
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| Yakov
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Yakov Gudkin
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Fragment of an Empire (Oblomok imperii) is a 1929 Soviet B&W silent film directed by Fridrikh Ermler. During the WWI Filimonov (Fyodor Nikitin), a non-commissioned officer of Russian army, is shell-shocked and looses his mind and memory. He lives on a small railway station as a handyman. More than ten years later Filimonov suddenly regains his memory after he sees his wife in the window of a passing train. He goes home to Saint Petersburg, now renamed to Leningrad. Being confused by the life in the Soviet city, Filimonov at last finds his place in the new world.
In 2018 the movie was restored by an international team and re-released. The modern release has 1920x1080 dimensions but with large black bars on sides. For the IMFDB page, the black bars on the screenshots are cropped, hence the non-standard aspect ratio.
Revolvers
Nagant M1895
In the scene in Leningrad in 1928, a Red Army commander carries a holstered Nagant M1895 revolver.
Nagant 1895, produced 1920s - 7.62x38R Nagant
The revolver itself isn't seen but the lanyard proves that the gun is in the holster.
Pistols
Mauser C96
In the opening scene, set during the Russian Civil war, a White officer (uncredited) and a Menshevik (Social Democratic faction in Russia) (Sergey Gerasimov) carry Mauser C96 pistols.
Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser
The officer fires at bodies of dead Red Army men.
The
Menshevik, accompanied by two White soldiers, finds wounded Yakov whom Filimonov hid in the shed (in reality
Mensheviks never allied with White Army but but here we see a political picture that unites together various opponents of the Bolsheviks).
...but fires not a Yakov but at a dog, saying "This man will die on its own".
He puts the Mauser back in holster (the inscription on the holster means "Daddy"). Strangely, the hammer is still cocked which would be very unsafe.
Rifles
Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon
In the opening scene Red Army men carry Mosin Nagant M1891 rifles. Most if not all rifles are of Dragoon version.
Imperial Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon - 7.62x54mm R
Red Army men with rifles in the winter night.
Two M91 Dragoon rifles are seen at the left.
Another view of the same scene.
A Red Army man with the rifle in hands is seen in the final scene.
Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry
In Filimonov's nightmares about the war, he is armed with a Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry rifle.
Imperial Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry - 7.62x54mm R
Filimonov readies his rifle when he meets a German soldier
A good view of Filimonov's rifle.
Filimonov holds the rifle with one hand, crossing himself with other hand.
Filimonov readies the rifle for bayonet attack.
Both soldiers prefer smoking together rather than fighting.
Mauser Gewehr 1898
White Army soldiers are armed with Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles. A German soldier (also played by Fyodor Nikitin) with Gewehr 98 rifle is seen in Filimonov's nightmares about the war. Gewehr 98 rifles are fitted with M1898/05 bayonets.
Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A White soldier at the background left holds a Gewehr 98 with bayonet.
Two White soldiers with Gewehr 98 rifles accompany the
Menshevik.
A good view of a bayonet.
A general view of the rifle in hands of a White soldier.
A German soldier holds a Gewehr 98 rifle.
He readies for close combat.
Both soldiers prefer smoking together rather than fighting.
Machine Guns
Maxim M1910
Visions of firing Maxim M1910 are seen when Filimonov regains his memory.
Maxim M1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR
Close-ups of firing Maxim.
The Maxim has the smooth water jacket, a feature common for the machine guns, produced during the WWI and in 1920s.
Filimonov moves the Maxim on position.
Trivia
76.2 mm divisional gun model 1902
Russian 76.2 mm divisional gun model 1902 are used by both Russian and German troops.
M1902 Field Gun - 76.2x385mm R
Russian artillery prepare to fire at fraternising soldiers.
German artillery also fire at fraternising soldiers.
6 inch M1877 Siege Gun
A 6 inch M1877 siege gun is used for the midday cannon shot in Leningrad.
The midday cannon in the Peter and Paul Fortress.
Naval Gun
A naval gun, supposedly a 102 mm L60, on a Soviet Navy ship.
KS Tank
A KS tank (a Soviet copy of French Renault FT 17 tank, also known as Russian Renault) appears in Filimonov's nightmares as the ruthless spirit of war. It is armed with 37 mm Hotchkiss cannon.
The tank approaches, crushing the forest.
The barrel of the cannon is seen. An empty position for
Hotchkiss Mk.I machine gun is seen on the right board of the turret; this feature differs the KS from FT 17.
The soldier tries in vain to hide behind the crucifix.
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