MOSCOW, October 27 (RIA Novosti) – Fyodor Bondarchuk’s “Stalingrad,” Russia’s pick for foreign-language Oscar this year, has become the highest-grossing film in the history of the Russian box office, an industry publication said.
“Stalingrad” grossed 1.224 billion rubles ($38.49 million) in Russia ahead of this weekend, Kinometro.ru said Friday.
The previous leader, “The Irony of Fate 2,” a 2007 sequel to a hit sentimental Soviet-era comedy, grossed 1.223 billion rubles ($38.46 million) in Russia.
“Stalingrad” is a love story set in 1942 in the eponymous city on the Volga River, a site of one of the bloodiest battles fought between the Red Army and the Nazis.
The film, Russia’s first IMAX 3D production, had a budget of $30 million and was partially funded by the state.
The movie gathered generally mediocre reviews in the Russian press and scored 4.6 out of 10 on IMDb film database.
It was nevertheless been submitted by Russia for this year’s Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, however. The nominees are to be announced in mid-January.
Updated with correction of Fyodor Bondarchuk's name
