The nationwide premiere of the feature film 'Time to Return' took place

The Vitebsk Cinema House hosted the nationwide premiere of the National Film Studio "Belarusfilm" feature film "The Time of Return".

The film is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders. The film is based on factual events and tells about the events preceding Operation Bagration and the liberation of Belarus.

The authors portray the scope and popular nature of the partisan movement, the confrontation between people's avengers and ruthless fascist punitive detachments. The main characters are people of different nationalities, who became kindred spirits in the region and brothers in friendship. The characters are based on the roots of ancient people.

Before the screening, viewers could explore an exhibition provided by the regional museum of Heroes of the Soviet Union M. Shmeryov. Denis Yakovlev, the chief keeper of museum collections, conducted a tour of the history of the partisan movement in the Vitebsk region.

Actors who starred in the film came to Vitebsk for the premiere. Dmitry Abazovik and Nikolay Talyano spoke about the filming and shared their views on the events of the Great Patriotic War.

– A film about war is a way to express gratitude to those who liberated our country and honor their memory. For us, actors, it is always very exciting and difficult to portray the images of war heroes. "This is more than acting," said Dmitry Abazovik, who played the role of a senior partisan commander.
Nikolay Talyano spoke about his ancestors who fought and were true defenders of the Fatherland.
The emotional mood for watching the film was set by young Vitebsk performers who presented soulful songs and poems.

The film is set in June 1944 in the vicinity of Orsha. A partisan brigade receives a mission to conduct reconnaissance and gather information on the state of the German army in the controlled territory. The Supreme High Command's directive is to understand that the Army Group "Center" forces on the Belarusian front can only be crushed by identifying the enemy's "pain points," and the frontal assault must be supported by partisans from the rear. The success of the upcoming offensive, which will go down in the history of the Great Patriotic War as Operation "Bagration," depends on the actions of the Belarusian popular avengers.

Filming began on June 23, 2023. For director Ivan Pavlov, this day was important and symbolic, as it was on June 23, 1944, that Operation "Bagration" began. The film was shot in Smolevichi and the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve.

Viewing the film became a lesson in patriotism and courage, the resilience of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers who defended freedom and peace in Belarus, primarily for the younger generation. At the first screening of the film, the audience consisted mostly of young people. It is important for them to know the truth about the war.

"VITEBSKIE VESTI"