Vladivostok Film Commission


the historical DOCUMENTARY ABOUT CAPTAIN BOYSMAN IS BEING FILMED IN VLADIVOSTOK AND ON TO BE SHOT IN JAPAN
June 30th, 2018
During this year, (officially announced as the year of the Russian-Japanese Culture), the work on documentary about captain V.A. Boysman was initiated by the Russian State Federal Channel «Russia-Culture» and with the support of the National History Fund. The film will reveal some unrenowned facts on the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

The first series of shoots already took place in the Western part of Russian, in Moscow and Velikiy Novgorod. Today the film crew starts working on the documentary in Vladivostok, where the Vladivostok Film Commission also supports the organizing of the shoot. Further on the film crew will travel to Japan and continue to shoot in sveral Japanese towns.

This is a story about Russian marine officer Vasiliy Arsenievich Boysman. Before to the Russian-Japanese War started Boysman had served at the Port Arthur Fortress for five years as a commander on a squadron battleship Peresvet. In December 1904 the Port Arthur Fortress went down, Boysman as many other officers had his chance to return home to Russia. All he had to do is to sign a letter and give his officer's word of honour that he won't take up arms against Japan. Despite his severe wound, Boysman preferred to face the destiny of his team, and voluntary stayed in captivity in Matsuyama, where 9 months later he had ended up his life.

The Film Director – Irina Bakhtina: "For the first time I heard this story from Mr. Yosihiro Mori, the Russian Language Institute Director in Tokyo. Mori-san was born in the prefecture of Matsuyama. This was exactly the place where 110 years ago several thousands of Russian marine soldiers lived in captivity. From his very childhood Mr. Mori was surrounded by the memorial symbols from another country, since he was a little boy he heard names of the Russian soldiers who died. Influenced by that the fisherman boy decided to study Russian, the language that was far from being popular at those days. Nowadays he is studying the history of that war which happened long time away. Mr. Mori was kind to agree to become part of our film. We are happy the Russian Culture Channel showed their interest for our script and agreed to provide financial support along with the National History Fund."
The farewell ceremony and the funeral have become an evidence of a great honour and love for the courageous commander of the Peresvet squadron battleship. Around 1,000 men came to see him for the last time at his funeral, and those were not only the Russian captives, but also Japanes officers and local government. In 1906 Boysman ashes were reburried in Vladivostok followed by big ceremony processions.

The film also will talk about the historical backgrounds and results of the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905; will explore the subject of Russian prisoners of war and the role of St.Nicolas of Japan within Russian church mission, along with the Japanese prisoners of war in the village Medved in Velikiy Novgorod, and importantly will bring up the examples of careful attitude towards the memories of our past and history in Russia and Japan in nowadays.

The Head of Russian Culture Channel Broadcast Department Susanna Zingermann: "The examples of a thorough care for our historical past always admire me. We wanted to share with our audience this amazing example of devotion and fidelity to the duty, both military and human one. What impresses most is the attitude towards the defeated side from the researchers who come out of the country which counter forced Russia and in fact won over in this war. It is extremely important for the veterans' descendants both in Russia and in Japan. From the bottom of our hearts we hope the film will become another bridge leading to a mutual understanding between our two nations."
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