Seventeen Moments of Spring: Pushkin House Two Day Screening Marathon

Seventeen Moments of Spring: Pushkin House Two Day Screening Marathon

Pushkin House is pleased to present a two day screening marathon of the Soviet Cult Classic Seventeen Moments of Spring and accompanied events.

The 1973 Soviet espionage TV series ‘Seventeen Moments of Spring’ with its haunting score and songs by composer Mikael Tariverdiev is rightly some of the most famous and well loved in Russian cinematic history. Yet inexplicably, it remains virtually unknown outside the Russian community and a small group of cognoscienti in the West.

When first released, each of the 12 episodes were was watched by a reported 50-80 million people, the streets emptied and, reportedly, crime rates dropped. It was the most popular Soviet TV series of all time.

The series was directed by Tatyana Lioznova and based on the novel of the same title by Yulian Semyonov. It portrays the exploits of Maxim Isaev, a Soviet spy operating in Nazi Germany under the name Max Otto von Stierlitz, portrayed by Vyacheslav Tikhonov.

Pushkin House is proud to be screening some 11 hours of footage, with subtitles. Come and immerse yourself in this iconic thriller that transformed the image of the KGB and provided a stylish, thoughtful counterpoint to the West’s James Bond image of espionage.

Marathon Schedule

DAY 1 , Saturday 22 September
11.00am – 12.00pm
Round Table discussion with Dina Newman, Alex Kan and special guests

The first day of the marathon will begin with a Round Table discussion involving the BBC Russia correspondents Dina Newman and Alex Kan, as well as special guests. They will discuss the cultural significance of Seventeen Moments of Spring and its score.

The conversation will investigate the strange birth of the series as part of Yuri Andropov’s attempt to rebrand the KGB, its rumoured influence on Vladimir Putin, why it became so hugely popular and whether it really does portray ‘the Soviet James Bond’.

In English.
1.00pm – 6.00pm
Seventeen Moments of Spring Screening Part One

Over two days, the entire Seventeen Moments of Spring series will be screened with English subtitles. Here is a chance for Russians to celebrate one of their most moving, influential and popular cultural achievements and for English speakers to be transported by one of the greatest cinematic portrayals of espionage.

In Russian with English subtitles.

DAY 2, Sunday 23 September
11.00am – 6.00pm
Seventeen Moments of Spring Screening Part Two

On the second day of the marathon we continue screening the rest of the episodes from Seventeen Moments of Spring.

In Russian with English subtitles.
6.30pm – 9.00pm
The Seventeen Moments of Spring Album Launch Party

A special evening with live music to celebrate the first release of the soundtrack from Seventeen Moments of Spring outside Russia. Over the last three years, publishers Antique Beat and Earth Recordings have been releasing a series of high quality, limited edition collections of Mikael Tariverdiev’s greatest film music. Antique Beat’s Stephen Coates, working with Vera Tariverdieva, has made new transfers of recordings from Mikael’s own tapes in the Tariverdiev studio. These contain some of the most famous and popular Russian film music of all time (including the music from blockbuster films such as The Irony of Fate).

The Seventeen Moments of Spring soundtrack which will be released on deluxe vinyl and CD includes pieces previously unreleased even in Russia.
A limited number of advance copies signed by Vera Tariverdieva will be available.