Heroes of Shipka

Geroite na Shipka (Bulgarian: Героите на Шипка; Russian: Герои Шипки, Geroi Shipki; in English: Shipka heroes; US title: Heroes of Shipka) is a 1955 Soviet Union/Bulgarian co-production historical drama film. It tells the story of the famous Battle of Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78. The production companies behind the film are Boyana Film, Bulgar Film and Lenfilm.

Geroi Shipki
Geroite na Shipka – Original Bulgarian poster
Directed by	Sergei Vasilyev
Written by	Arkadi Perventsev
Starring	Ivan Pereverzev Apostol Karamitev Viktor Avdyushko Georgi Yumatov
Cinematography	Mihail Kirilov
Edited by	Yelena Bazhenova
Music by	Petar Stupel, Nikolay Kryukov
Distributed by	Lenfilm
Release date	25 February 1955 (1955-02-25) (USSR)
Running time	137 minutes
Countries	Soviet Union Bulgaria
Languages	Russian Bulgarian

The film won the Best Director Award at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot

Set in the 1870s on the Balkan Peninsula under the control of the Ottoman Empire, the film portrays the aftermath of the bloody suppression of the April Uprising (1876) in Bulgaria. The brutal crackdown sparks outrage among progressive members of the Russian intelligentsia. In Saint Petersburg, protests are held, with passionate speeches from figures such as the future writer Vsevolod Garshin and the renowned surgeon Nikolay Pirogov. The suffering of Christians in the Ottoman Empire, particularly after the uprisings in Herzegovina (1875) and Bulgaria, elicits widespread sympathy in Europe and Russia. In 1877, the Russian Empire declares war on the Ottoman Empire to liberate Orthodox Slavs and establish the independence of Bulgaria and expand Serbia, without seeking additional territorial gains apart from those lost during the Crimean War. The war, however, intertwines the interests of major powers: Britain eyes control of the straits, while Germany and Austria-Hungary anticipate the weakening of Russia.

The film vividly depicts key events of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), including the crossing of the Danube River at Zimnitsa, the Defense of Shipka Pass, the third assault on Pleven, and the Battle of Sheynovo. It features numerous historical figures, including military leaders, diplomats, and public figures. The portrayal of the war aligns with the prevailing Soviet historical narrative, contrasting the competence of progressive Russian commanders (such as War Minister Dmitry Milyutin and Generals Mikhail Skobelev, Iosif Gurko, Nikolay Stoletov, Fyodor Radetsky, Eduard Totleben, and Mikhail Dragomirov) against the ineffectiveness of the higher command, including Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, Generals Nepokoychitsky and Lechitsky, and Emperor Alexander II himself. The film emphasizes the unity between Russian and Bulgarian soldiers in their shared struggle.

The movie combines elements of a historical epic with large-scale battle sequences. It was filmed on location in Bulgaria at the actual historical sites during the same seasons as the events depicted, adding a layer of authenticity to the massive battle scenes. Thousands of soldiers and officers from Soviet and Bulgarian forces participated in the production, contributing to the film's grandiose and historically accurate portrayal of this pivotal war.

Cast

• Ivan Pereverzev as Katorgin
• Viktor Avdyushko as Osnobishin
• Georgi Yumatov as Cossack Sashko Kozir
• Konstantin Sorokin as Makar Lizyuta
• Petko Karlukovsky as Borimechkata
• Apostol Karamitev as Petka
• Anatoli Alekseyev as Timofei
• Yevgeny Samoylov as Gen. Skobelev
• Aleksandr Smirnov as Strukov
• Nikolai Massalitinov as Gorchakov
• Nikolai Simonov as Otto von Bismarck
• Bruno Freindlich as Gyula Andrássy
• Stefan Pejchev as Panayot
• Zheni Bozhinova as Boyka
• Katya Chukova as Ionka
• Vladimir Taskin as Benjamin Disraeli
• Dako Dakovski as Sultan Abdul Hamid II
• Konstantin Kisimov as Suleiman Pasha
• Encho Tagarov as Osman Pasha
• Vladimir Chobur as Stoletov
• Sergei Papov as Iosif Gurko
• Gancho Ganchev as Dukmasov

Crew

• Original Music:

Nikolai Kryukov

Filip Kutev

• Cinematography:

Mikhail Kirillov

• Film Editing

Yelena Bazhenova

• Production Design

Mikhail Bogdanov

Gennady Myasnikov

Georgi-Dzhon Popov

• Costume Design

Nevena Baltova

Pepa Misirkova

Yevgenia Slovtsova

• Makeup

Vasili Goryunov

• Sound Department

Boris Antonov

Aleksandr Babij

Kuzman Shopov

External links

• Heroes of Shipka at IMDb