The Inner Circle
El círculo del poder
1991 · United States, Italy, Soviet Union · 137 min
- Director
- Andrei Konchalovsky
- Screenplay
- Andrei Konchalovsky
- Producer
- Claudio Bonivento
- Music
- Eduard Artemyev
- Cinematography
- Ennio Guarnieri
- Production company
- Mosfilm
What the critics say
50 % Rotten Tomatoes positive reviewsCast
What it is about
Ivan Sanchin works as a projectionist at the headquarters of the Soviet state security service. After his marriage to Anastasia, he is summoned to the Kremlin and appointed private projectionist to Stalin and his inner circle, including Beria. Proud and devoted to the dictator, Ivan begins to see up close what it costs to remain near power.
How it was made
A co-production of the United States, Italy and the Soviet Union, written and directed by Andrei Konchalovsky and shot in English. Tom Hulce plays Sanchin, alongside Bob Hoskins and Lolita Davidovich. The story is inspired by the real life of projectionist Alex Ganchin, on whom the character is based.
Reception and legacy
The film received mixed reviews and nominations at the Berlin International Film Festival and the 1993 Nika Awards. The academic Milena Michalski found it ambitious in its historical scope but too inclined toward a sentimental ending. Hoskins would later play Nikita Khrushchev in Enemy at the Gates.
Stills
Trailer
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Trivia
A real figure
The protagonist is based on Alex Ganchin, the real projectionist behind the story, although in the film he appears as Ivan Sanchin.
Hoskins and Khrushchev
Bob Hoskins later played Nikita Khrushchev in Enemy at the Gates, directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud.
More films by Andrei Konchalovsky
Tango & Cash
Runaway Train
Dear Comrades!
Siberiade
To Each His Own Cinema
ParadiseOriginal Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.