Fragment of an Empire
Original Poster
Main Cast
Character
Actor
Filimonov
Fyodor Nikitin
Natalya
Lyudmila Semyonova
Natalya's new husband
Valeri Solovtsov
Yakov
Yakov Gudkin
Fragment of an Empire Oblomok imperii ) is a 1929 Soviet B&W silent film directed by Fridrikh Ermler. During the WWI Filimonov (Fyodor Nikitin ), a non-commissioned officer of Russian army, is shell-shocked and looses his mind and memory. He lives on a small railway station as a handyman. More than ten years later Filimonov suddenly regains his memory after he sees his wife in the window of a passing train. He goes home to Saint Petersburg, now renamed to Leningrad. Being confused by the life in the Soviet city, Filimonov at last finds his place in the new world.
In 2018 the movie was restored by an international team and re-released. The modern release has 1920x1080 dimensions but with large black bars on sides. For the IMFDB page, the black bars on the screenshots are cropped, hence the non-standard aspect ratio.
Revolvers Nagant M1895 In the scene in Leningrad in 1928, a Red Army commander carries a holstered Nagant M1895 revolver.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Nagant 1895, produced 1920s - 7.62x38R Nagant Error creating thumbnail: File missing The revolver itself isn't seen but the lanyard proves that the gun is in the holster. Pistols Mauser C96 In the opening scene, set during the Russian Civil war, a White officer (uncredited) and a Menshevik (Social Democratic faction in Russia) (Sergey Gerasimov ) carry Mauser C96 pistols.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing The officer fires at bodies of dead Red Army men. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Menshevik , accompanied by two White soldiers, finds wounded Yakov whom Filimonov hid in the shed (in reality Mensheviks never allied with White Army but but here we see a political picture that unites together various opponents of the Bolsheviks). Error creating thumbnail: File missing He takes aim... Error creating thumbnail: File missing ...but fires not a Yakov but at a dog, saying "This man will die on its own". Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing He puts the Mauser back in holster (the inscription on the holster means "Daddy"). Strangely, the hammer is still cocked which would be very unsafe. Rifles Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon In the opening scene Red Army men carry Mosin Nagant M1891 rifles. Most if not all rifles are of Dragoon version.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Imperial Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Red Army men with rifles in the winter night. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two M91 Dragoon rifles are seen at the left. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the same scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Red Army man with the rifle in hands is seen in the final scene. Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry In Filimonov's nightmares about the war, he is armed with a Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Imperial Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Filimonov readies his rifle when he meets a German soldier Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of Filimonov's rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Filimonov holds the rifle with one hand, crossing himself with other hand. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Filimonov readies the rifle for bayonet attack. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Both soldiers prefer smoking together rather than fighting. Mauser Gewehr 1898 White Army soldiers are armed with Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles. A German soldier (also played by Fyodor Nikitin ) with Gewehr 98 rifle is seen in Filimonov's nightmares about the war. Gewehr 98 rifles are fitted with M1898/05 bayonets.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing A White soldier at the background left holds a Gewehr 98 with bayonet. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two White soldiers with Gewehr 98 rifles accompany the Menshevik . Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good view of a bayonet. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A general view of the rifle in hands of a White soldier. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A German soldier holds a Gewehr 98 rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing He readies for close combat. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Both soldiers prefer smoking together rather than fighting. Machine Guns Maxim M1910 Visions of firing Maxim M1910 are seen when Filimonov regains his memory.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim M1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Close-ups of firing Maxim. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Maxim has the smooth water jacket, a feature common for the machine guns, produced during the WWI and in 1920s. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Filimonov moves the Maxim on position. Trivia 76.2 mm divisional gun model 1902 Russian 76.2 mm divisional gun model 1902 are used by both Russian and German troops.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1902 Field Gun - 76.2x385mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Russian artillery prepare to fire at fraternising soldiers. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Fire! Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing German artillery also fire at fraternising soldiers. 6 inch M1877 Siege Gun A 6 inch M1877 siege gun is used for the midday cannon shot in Leningrad.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing The midday cannon in the Peter and Paul Fortress. Naval Gun Error creating thumbnail: File missing A naval gun, supposedly a 102 mm L60, on a Soviet Navy ship. KS Tank A KS tank (a Soviet copy of French Renault FT 17 tank, also known as Russian Renault) appears in Filimonov's nightmares as the ruthless spirit of war. It is armed with 37 mm Hotchkiss cannon.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing The tank approaches, crushing the forest. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The barrel of the cannon is seen. An empty position for Hotchkiss Mk.I machine gun is seen on the right board of the turret; this feature differs the KS from FT 17. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier tries in vain to hide behind the crucifix. 
