Visit to Minotaur explained

Visit to Minotaur
Director:Eldor Urazbayev
Starring:Sergey Shakurov
Anna Kamenkova
Aleksandr Filippenko
Music:Eduard Artemyev
Cinematography:Aleksandr Rybin
Studio:Gorky Film Studio
Runtime:350 minutes
Country:USSR
Language:Russian

Visit to Minotaur or (Russian: Визит к Минотавру|Vizit k Minotavru) is a Soviet TV serial detective film, based on the eponymous novel by the Vayner Brothers, shot by the director Eldor Urazbayev in 1987.[1]

Plot

USSR, Moscow in the 1980s. A unique violin made by Antonio Stradivari is stolen from the apartment of the famous violinist Lev Osipovich Polyakov. Attorney Stanislav Tikhonov and police lieutenant Elena Nechayeva proceed to investigate the case.

First, suspicions fall on Obolnikov, neighbor of the Polyakov family. But it turns out that although Obolnikov did secretly enter the apartment of the violinist he was not involved in the theft. Then Pavel Ikonnikov becomes the suspect – a former violinist who was once well acquainted with Polyakov. A motive is evident: envy of the more fortunate and successful colleague could push Ikonnikov toward crime. Some information which includes an anonymous letter indicates that Ikonnikov could be involved in the theft. But also in this case Tikhonov and Nechayeva are wrong. Moreover, Ikonnikov, deeply offended with the unfounded suspicions in his address, commits suicide. As farewell, Ikonnikov wrote a letter to Tikhonov, in which he states that the person who slandered him is apparently a person who is very close to Ikonnikov.

An unexpected breakthrough in this complicated case is the appearance of the stolen cassette player belonging to Polyakov. Clinging to this evidence, the investigation manages to come upon the "master thief" Melnik, who helped criminals open the door to the violinists apartment. There were two criminals - "Cross" and "Boss" but they can not be found.

A random occurrence helps Tikhonov. During confrontation with arrested Melnik, piano tuner Gregory Belash suddenly gives false testimony that Melnik and Ikonnikov met with each other after the violin was stolen. Tikhonov for the first time begins to suspect Belash whom he previously liked. Attorney examines in detail Belash's alibi on the day of the theft and discovers that Belash is one of the criminals, the very same "Boss". Belash is arrested, but the most dangerous criminal "Cross" is still at large. He is armed and dangerous and most importantly - the Stradivarius violin is in his hands. It would seem that to catch this cunning and cautious offender is impossible, but unexpected "help" to the investigation is offered by an empty jar of pickled mushrooms. Tikhonov and Nechayeva apprehend "Cross" and Elena is seriously injured. And in the very last moment customs delay departure of a plane from the USSR on which a foreigner is boarded who has bought the Stradivarius from "Cross", trying to take the priceless musical instrument abroad.

At the same time a second story-line unfolds in the film about the great violin maker Antonio Stradivari.

Italy, Cremona, end of the - 17th - start of the 18th century. The famous violin maker Nicola Amati takes a simple street boy Antonio Stradivari as a student. Stradivarius is a diligent student and some time later Antonio becomes superior to his old teacher when he creates an incomparable varnish which allows to make unique-sounding musical instruments. Stradivarius leaves Amati, marries, one after the other four sons are born, but nobody buys Stradivarius' instruments, Amati is for the most famous violin maker in Europe, and simply no one knows of Stradivarius.

But soon Fortuna finally smiles upon the despairing Stradivarius; his instruments are finally becoming more popular. Antonio becomes rich, he and his family begin to live in luxury, but this does not stop Stradivarius for even a moment. Antonio continues to search for more and more sophisticated ways of processing wood, varnish manufacture, so that his violins sound better and better. But Stradivarius is unhappy because circumstances concerning his family unfold in a woeful way. His beloved wife dies, eldest son becomes a merchant-slaver, middle son - a Jesuit monk, and two younger sons do not have either the talent nor the desire to learn the violin business.

Soon Stradivarius is offered with a unique chance to pass on his knowledge and skill onto worthy hands as to him comes a young man named Giuseppe Guarneri and asks the great master to take him as a disciple. Alas, Stradivarius refuses future genius, and Guarneri is forced to literally sell himself into slavery to the Jesuits. For food and accommodation Giuseppe is obliged for 15 years to give all the musical instruments he made. As the years go by, one day on the street Stradivarius hears the sound of Guarneri's violin. Tears appear in the old master's eyes as he realizes that someone has created a violin that sounds better than his musical instruments...

Cast

Moscow, USSR, 20th century

Cremona, Italy, 17-18th century

Filming

Errors and inaccuracies

The differences between the novel and the film

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Визит к Минотавру. Х/ф. Russia-K.
  2. http://sobytiya.net.ua/archive,date-2008_09_29,article-ynikalnyyu_skripky_stradivari_podaren/article.html Уникальную скрипку Страдивари, подаренную Давиду Ойстраху королевой Бельгии, похитили в 1996 году.
  3. http://ria.ru/weekend_cinema/20131213/983936151.html Роли Ростислава Плятта: интеллигент с большим чувством Ю