Steppe Rollings (1975) by Mazhit Begalin
Director: Mazhit Begalin
Writers: Mazhit Begalin, Vladimir Kunin
Cinematographer: Abiltai Kasteyev
Composer: Eduard Khagagortyan
Production Director: Idris Karsakbayev
Cast: Nartai Begalin, Vladimir Gusev, Vadim Zakharchenko, Mikhail Gluzsky, Kanabek Baiseitov, Nurmukhan Zhanturin, Igor Bogolyubov, Shakhan Musin, German Kachin, Viktor Avdyushko, Nikolai Rybnikov, Anvar Boranbayev
Production: Kazakhfilm
Premiere: 2002 (TV)
Genre: drama, historical film
The film "Steppe Rollings" is dedicated to the events of the Civil War, the offensive of Denikin and Kolchak's troops on Uralsk, and the city's defense. Historical facts are presented on a grand scale, through the personalities and fates of many characters, with extensive use of crowd and battle scenes.
The film's plot revolves around a dispute between the Tuchnovs, a major general and a warrant officer in the White Army, over the legitimacy of violence. "Do you want everything to be laid at the feet of boors?" the elder asks the younger. Guided by notions of military honor, he disowns his own son, who has violated his oath, and brings him to trial.
Despite its subject matter, the film sat unpublished for over a quarter of a century and was only shown on the Kazakhstan television channel in 2002 to mark the director's 80th birthday.