Union of Salvation (film)

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Union of Salvation is a 2019 Russian war epic directed by Andrei Kravchuk. The film tells the story of the Decembrist revolt of 1825, when a group of Russian officers tried to force reforms, abolish serfdom, and move Russia toward a constitutional monarchy. The Union of Salvation, formed in 1816 by life-guards officers who supported liberal changes, leads the plot through the December uprising in Saint Petersburg and the parallel rebellion of the 29th Chernigov Infantry Regiment in Kiev.

The movie features a large ensemble cast led by Leonid Bichevin, Maksim Matveyev, Pavel Priluchny, Ivan Yankovsky, Anton Shagin, Ivan Kolesnikov, Aleksei Guskov and others. It combines detailed period drama with large-scale battle sequences and is notable for its ambitious production design, costumes, and effects.

Budgeted at about 980 million rubles (roughly $16 million at the time), Union of Salvation was produced with support from Russian state studios and major partners, and shot mainly in Saint Petersburg and Belgorod Oblast. The production used extensive sets, handmade costumes, and advanced computer graphics to recreate early 19th-century Russia, including 360-degree camera work for some scenes.

The film premiered in Moscow on December 18, 2019, and was released in Russia on December 26, 2019 by 20th Century Fox CIS. Dmitriy Emelyanov composed the score, and a soundtrack album was released in March 2020. The project also spawned a TV series, Union of Salvation: Time of Fury, which began filming in 2021 as a continuation of the story.

Union of Salvation received seven Russian awards for aspects such as acting, cinematography, visual effects, costumes, makeup, sound, and production design. Critics noted it as a grand, visually impressive retelling of a pivotal historical episode, while some historians pointed out inaccuracies in certain scenes.