About War and Peace Part II: Natasha Rostova

War and Peace Part II: Natasha Rostova (1966) is a legendary film based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy. Its detailed plot revolves around the life transformations of the protagonist, Natasha Rostova, played by Lyudmila Saveleva, set against the backdrop of the French invasion of Russia in 1812. It follows her love triangle with Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov, ultimately leading to profound internal and external conflicts.

Making / Production

The film was directed by Sergey Bondarchuk who also played Pierre Bezukhov, with Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov composing the memorable music. The choreography, costumes, and grandeur of the film were praised for their authenticity to the time period and their ability to immerse audiences into the world of early 19th-century Russia.

Actors

• Lyudmila Saveleva as Natasha Rostova: Depicted the zest and spirit of the character in a flawless manner.
• Sergey Bondarchuk as Pierre Bezukhov: Directed and played Pierre, deeply portraying the character's conflicts and sentimentality.
• Vyacheslav Tikhonov as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky: Executed the role of an aristocratic officer with flawless finesse.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film was shot in 70mm, which was a rarity during its time.
• The entire film series took six years to complete, and this part alone contains over 1,200 extras.

Awards

The film was met with huge success, bagging the Grand Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1967 and other nominations.

Quotes

• "There’s no greatness where there's not simplicity, goodness, and truth."
• "We can't stop wars from happening. But we can limit the suffering, perhaps."

Music, Soundtrack

• "Overture" by Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov: Sets the epic tone for the film.
• "Waltz at the Ball" by Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov: A beautiful composition complementing the grand ballroom scenes.