Burnt by the Sun
From Conservapedia
Burnt by the Sun is an Academy Award winning Russian movie by actor-director Nikita Mikhalkov.
Plot
The film opens in 1936, just before Joseph Stalin's Great Purge. General Sergei Kotov (Nikita Mikhalkov), an idealistic Communist and decorated hero of the Russian Civil War, is enjoying life in his country dacha. Alongside him is his wife Maroussia (Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė), their daughter Nadia, and Maroussia's large and eccentric family of foppish ex-nobles. The charismatic Kotov, relaxed in his semi-retirement, is held in awe by all who surround him.
Into this idyllic setting walks Mitya (Oleg Menshikov), a former nobleman who was Maroussia's fiance before his sudden disappearance. He is joyfully embraced by the family and introduced to Nadia as "Uncle Mitya." However, it soon becomes clear that despite his humorous, friendly nature he has returned with a secret agenda. Mitya now works for the Secret Police, or NKVD, and has arrived to arrest General Kotov under false charges of spying for the German and Japanese governments.
This is revenge to some extent, as the reason why he left Maroussia was that Kotov forcibly conscripted him into the NKVD. Mitya was then sent to Paris and ordered to spy on White Army emigres. As result, Mitya detests Kotov, whom he blames for taking away both Maroussia and his own faith in God. Kotov, however, views Mitya as "a whore" who was "bought and paid for" by the Soviet State. He is certain that Mitya's plans to arrest him are nothing more than a personal vendetta. Citing his enormous popularity and his close relationship with Stalin, Kotov tells Mitya indignantly that the regime will never dare to touch him. In public, however, they continue their charade of friendship.
Eventually, however, a black car filled with NKVD agents arrives to arrest him. Even then, the charade continues and Nadia is even allowed to ride part of the way. Thinking nothing is amiss, she kisses her father goodbye and walks home. Meanwhile, Kotov's cool, officer's pride remains unshaken. Certain that he can turn the tables on his captors by calling Stalin's private number, he taunts them about the coming destruction of their careers.
However, when he tries to leave the car, the NKVD agents beat him to a pulp and shackle his hands. In horror, Kotov realizes where the decision to arrest him must have come from. With his faith in the system shattered, a bloodied Kotov weeps unconsolably. Mitya, who has obviously seen this happen to many men, remains unmoved. The car drives on until a massive poster of Stalin shields it from view.
A postscript reveals that General Sergei Kotov was convicted of espionage and shot. Maroussia was also arrested and died in the GULAG. Both sentences were later overturned during the Khrushchev thaw. Their daughter Nadia is described as having survived and as currently working as a music teacher in Kazakhstan. Mitya - as the last scenes of the movie reveal - committed suicide by slashing his wrists.
