Fyodor Bondarchuk
Photo: Ivan MAKEEV
In Moscow, at the Karo Oktyabr cinema, the premiere of the film “Lord of the Wind” about Fyodor Konyukhov took place. In theaters starting October 5. The famous traveler was played by his namesake Fyodor Bondarchuk. The film tells about a flight around the world in a hot air balloon, thanks to which Konyukhov set a world record in 2016. The traveler circled the Earth in 11 days, 4 hours and 20 minutes. It is clear that some special effects were done on a computer, but most of the film was shot live and Fyodor Bondarchuk had to work hard.
The film took six whole years to film. Initially, Fyodor Bondarchuk supervised the film as a director, but then handed the project over to Igor Voloshin, who invited Fyodor to play the famous traveler. Of course, there were makeup tests, because the namesakes still don’t look alike. Firstly, Bondarchuk is 16 years younger than Konyukhov, and secondly, they have different hairstyles… However, it turned out that Fedorov is almost indistinguishable in wig and makeup.
But that is not all. It is necessary to have certain skills to play a person who alone overcomes the oceans and conquers Everest, that is, practically tames the elements. The title of the film “Lord of the Wind” speaks for itself.
Technically, the filming itself was very difficult. For example, it was a real hot air balloon 52 meters long, which is equivalent to the height of a 17-story building. In the trailer of the film you can see tons of water being poured on the main character during a storm in the ocean. Of course, Bondarchuk had a deputy, but he did a lot of things himself.
Film director Igor Voloshin.
Photo: Ivan MAKEEV
“I had to torture and beat him, but he agreed. Technically, this is a very complex project that we filmed with a live person. Of course, to play Fedor Konyukhov, you must be prepared. And Fedor is in very good shape in this regard, and it’s not about losing weight. He is physically very strong,” project director Igor Voloshin told KP.RU. “I had to lift weights and row. We filmed the boat with reinforcements: a special harness system was invented so that the tear in the frame could be felt. There’s nothing wrong with surviving a lot of takes if you’re not prepared.”
By the way, for 70 percent of the movie Bondarchuk is masked and “plays with his eyes” for most of it.
“This is a big and serious step forward for him in a professional sense. This is the new Bondarchuk. We’re very happy with how he handled it. Bondarchuk did in the cinema what Konyukhov does in life,” Voloshin told KP.RU.
Filming was planned to take place in different parts of the world, because after all the film is about a trip around the world. But due to the global situation, problems arose with locations. Fortunately, our country is not inferior in beauty to Australia, over which the traveler in history flies.
Fedor Bondarchuk and Fedor Konyukhov
Photo: Ivan MAKEEV
“At one point we realized that we had no opportunity to film either in Australia or even in Crimea. At the same time, I have the blessing of Fyodor Filippovich. We also have a complex project, it was planned in the schedule before filming. Last spring we realized that we either shoot or we don’t. I looked like this: “Lord, help me.” And from there Dagestan responded to me: “Great, brother! Everything’s fine. Let’s go.” We filmed 80% of what you will see in the Republic of Dagestan,” said Fyodor Bondarchuk from the stage of the Karo Oktyabr cinema.
READ ALSO
Premiere of “Lord of the Wind”: Konyukhov patted Bondarchuk’s bald head, and Kobzon recalled how her husband helped the traveler
The premiere of a film about the traveler Fyodor Konyukhov took place in Moscow (details)
