In 2013, a bronze monument to the heroes of Vladimir Rogov's painting "Officers" was erected on the Frunzenskaya embankment in Moscow, not far from the Ministry of Defense. The opening ceremony was attended by the actors who played the main roles in the film and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
In early December 2013, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation S. K. Shoigu took part in the unveiling of the monument to the heroes of the film "Officers".
Monument on the Frunzenskaya embankment
The opening ceremony of the monument took place near the building of the Ministry of Defense on the Frunzenskaya embankment in Moscow. The sculptural composition is made of bronze and reproduces a scene from the film in which Ivan Varavva, Alexei Trofimov and his wife and their grandson Ivan meet.
Film "Officers"
The film "Officers" was filmed by director Vladimir Rogov in 1971 at the Gorky Film Studio. The film gained incredible popularity - more than fifty million viewers watched it in the Soviet box office.
The plot of the picture unfolds in the early 1920s. One of the main characters of the film, cadet Alexei Trofimov, goes to serve in Central Asia with his wife. There he meets the officer Ivan Varavva, with whom, shoulder to shoulder, fights against the Basmachi gangs. Alexei has a son, Yegor. Further, the paths of friends diverge. Alexei is first sent to serve in China, then to Spain. After the start of the Great Patriotic War, both Alexei and his son went to the front. Egor serves in tank units and dies in one of the battles.
Alexey Trofimov ends the war with the rank of major general. His grandson Ivan at this time is studying at the Suvorov School. At the headquarters of the district, Alexei unexpectedly meets Barabbas, who by that time had become a colonel-general.
The film ends with the story of the third generation of the Trofimovs - grandson Ivan, who serves in the airborne troops.
Telling about the fate of the Trofimovs, the director of the picture draws the appearance of a Soviet and Russian officer - fearless, courageous, who does not know mercy for enemies and does not spare his life to defend the Motherland.
Connecting the past and the present
The initiative to create the film "Officers" belonged to the Minister of Defense of the USSR Andrei Grechko. It is he who owns the catch phrase "There is such a profession - to defend the Motherland." The main roles of "Officers" starred Vasily Lanovoy, Alina Pokrovskaya and Georgy Yumatov.
In 2013, at the opening ceremony of the monument to the heroes of the painting, Vasily Lanovoy and Alina Pokrovskaya were present as guests of honor. Speaking to the audience, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recalled that the opening of the monument was timed to coincide with the Day of Heroes of the Fatherland. He stressed that on such a day one cannot but recall the history of his people - a history that is inextricably linked with the heroes of the "Officers". In response, Vasily Lanovoy read several poems about the Great Patriotic War.
