The Earthquake
Short description
The Earthquake is a drama set during the 1988 Spitak earthquake in Armenia. The story follows Konstantin Berezhnoy and Robert Melkonyan, who are forced to work together in a rescue squad to save survivors from the ruins. Their cooperation is complicated by a shared past, as Konstantin was responsible for a car accident years earlier that killed Robert's parents. As Konstantin returns to his own family during the disaster, he and Robert must navigate their mutual resentment while facing the devastation of the catastrophe.
The film was directed by Sarik Andreasyan, appearing as the third project in a chronological list of his works that includes Mafia: Survival Game earlier in 2016 and Guardians in 2017. The production was a collaboration between Russia and Armenia, involving companies such as the Cinema Fund and the National Cinema Centre of Armenia. The movie stars Konstantin Lavronenko and Mariya Mironova, with a total credited cast of 27 actors.
Financially, the film had a budget of 200 million USD but earned 4 million USD at the worldwide box office. Audience reception is moderately positive, with a rating of 6.6/10 based on 3,100 votes on IMDb and a rating of 6.7/10 from 73 votes on TMDB.
What's left behind the scenes
- Work on the script lasted 4 years. It was based on documentary chronicles and stories told by witnesses of the earthquake: doctors and emergency services personnel; leaders of teams clearing rubble; survivors who were rescued from under the debris.
- Each filming day concluded with a moment of silence – in memory of the victims of the earthquake.
- The film is based on real events and tells the story of the earthquake in Armenia on December 7, 1988.
- The film's producer, Ruben Dishdishyan, and one of the leading actors, Grant Tokhatyan, participated in rescue operations in Leninakan in December 1988.
- Filming lasted 42 days and took place in Moscow and Gyumri. Scenes depicting the aftermath of the earthquake were filmed in Russia, while scenes of peaceful life before the tragedy were filmed in Armenia.
- 4 tons of cement powder were used on the Moscow shooting block, which was sprayed onto the set to create the necessary visual effects. 1500 respirators were purchased for the film crew.
- 5 trucks of props were brought in to 'fill' the apartments: wall units, shelves, tables, chairs, carpets, chandeliers, dishes, toys, books.
- After the 1988 earthquake, not a single child remained in an orphanage – every Armenian family considered it their duty to adopt an orphan. The Andreasian family was in line to adopt four children.
- The area of the set depicting the city destroyed after the earthquake is 10,000 square meters. The set recreated the streets and buildings of the real Leninakan with almost documentary precision. It was built in a month and a half on the territory of an abandoned Moscow factory. Heavy machinery was used in the construction – cranes, bulldozers, excavators. 8,000 tons of building materials were brought in: wood, polystyrene, concrete blocks, asphalt.
- 500 actors from Armenia and Russia participated in the casting.
- Residents of Gyumri (formerly Leninakan) participated as extras in the filming that took place in Armenia, most of whom experienced and remember the 1988 earthquake. 150 people took part in the mass scenes.
Similar movies
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
