Why The 8 Best Dates Failed. Why did the movie "8 Best Dates" fail? 8 Best Dates flopped at the box office

Release of the film “8 best dates"with the participation of the Ukrainian patriot Zelensky is an extremely controversial event. It was not possible to remove this film from rental even despite the fact that the artist who played in it main role, is known not only for his public anti-Russian statements, but also for financial assistance to ATO participants in the Donbass.

Zelensky was previously quite popular in the segment of Russian cinema and films with his participation were always a box office success. However, after his controversial statements and actions, people's love to Zelensky in Russia quickly faded away. The actor did not lose heart, continuing to perform in Ukraine, delighting the punishers with his jokes, mostly, of course, about Russia. But all good things quickly come to an end, just like the money generously donated by Zelensky and his team to ATO participants. Zelensky didn’t come up with anything smarter than earning money in Russia and spending it in Ukraine. As if nothing had happened, he starred in the new Russian film and even planned to come to Moscow for the pre-show and premiere. I came to my senses. More precisely, they made me change my mind Russian citizens, who wrote a statement regarding Zelensky’s anti-Russian statements to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The film quickly fails at the box office. Over the five days of release in Russia, it collected almost two times less than the project managers planned to collect over two weekends. Today we can say that the film has not yet even recouped the costs of its creation, not to mention the costs of the advertising campaign, which, according to preliminary estimates, even exceeded the budget for filming the film. But, despite the fact that many Russians openly spit on posters depicting Zelensky, who called the residents of Donbass “scum” and chanted in front of the punitive forces “We showed Russia the fuck!”, someone went to see the film with his participation! How else can you explain the fact that the film “8 Best Dates” has already collected more than 60 million rubles in Russia?

Not last role played by an advertising campaign launched on the central channel, whose leadership suddenly “forgot” the political role of the Ukrainian patriot Zelensky. Just as the Gazprom Media company, which allocated money for the filming of this film and provided the anti-Russian clown Zelensky not only with work, but also with a fee, forgot about this earlier. I have always said that in most cases, where business begins, patriotism ends. With rare exceptions, this is exactly the case. It's a shame. It turns out that national idea, voiced by President Putin, concerns only us, ordinary Russians, and does not apply to the management of corporations, even those in which the state owns a controlling stake?

The film's distributors and producers, who expect to make up for the box office failure in two holidays- March 7 and 8, they appeal to our prudence and remind us, Russians, that we must be above such prejudices. Yes, they're right. But it is precisely the realization that we are above all the unprincipled clowns-guest workers who scold Russia, and after that, as if nothing had happened, come to us to work, should stop those who are going to have a fun time today, watching how people act and make faces on the big screen. Zelensky, who recently financed the murders of children in the Donbass, is clowning. For those who still decided to go and look at “ acting"Zelensky, I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the contents of the video posted above, which reflects the whole essence of this artist. Watch the first three minutes, listen to the songs, soulful and patriotic.

Alexey Zotyev

The film “Eight Best Dates,” starring Ukrainian satirist Vladimir Zelensky, failed at the box office. Viewers in the South of Russia, who traditionally love spring comedies, also voted with their feet against the film, the distribution of which in Russia many demanded to be banned patriotic movements and politics. And although the authors of the film hoped that due to the scandal the film would be a success and earn at least 130 million rubles in Russia, they were very mistaken in this.

"They stop being stars"

A week ago, the comedy film “Eight Best Dates” was released in Russia - the last film in the trilogy dedicated to the unsuccessful veterinarian Nikita, who has no luck in love. Four years ago the first film, “Eight First Dates,” was released, and in 2014, “Eight New Dates.”

All three films were directed by Marius Weisberg, and played the main role Vladimir Zelensky, former member Ukrainian KVN team "95th Quarter", which then created creative association under the same name. Zelensky was a member of the board and general producer the largest Ukrainian TV channel "Inter" (its controlling shareholder is a billionaire Dmitry Firtash), on which the show “Evening Quarter” was broadcast for many years. Then the TV show moved to the competing TV channel “1+1”, which is controlled by another oligarch no less famous to Russian viewers. Igor Kolomoisky.

Name the owners of TV channels with whom you collaborated creative team Zelensky is important because main genre his jokes are political satire. “Evening Quarter” equally scathingly castigates the entire Ukrainian and Russian elite, starting from Nikita Dzhigurda and ending Oleg Lyashko. However, for the mass Russian audience, “Evening Quarter” (released, by the way, in Russian) is practically unknown.

But it is widely known that Vladimir Zelensky actively supports official Kyiv in civil war in the Donbass, spoke out against the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR, and at the same time against Moscow and Russia as a whole. Participants of the “95th Quarter” have been constantly performing in front of the fighters for the last two years National Guard Ukraine, it is also known that at least once (in August 2014) they transferred funds to fighters of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO). The conversation, according to Ukrainian publications, was about a million hryvnia (approximately), which was used to purchase personal hygiene products and medicines for soldiers.

"If Russian performers express anti-Ukrainian views, for me they simply cease to be stars,” Zelensky said in an interview. And before the start of the release of the film “Eight Best Dates” in Russia, Vladimir Zelensky was reminded of this ambivalent position. After all, he criticizes our country, but it’s where he makes money.

The Ministry of Culture is against prohibitions. Bye

A wave of protest arose on the Internet against the screening of the film “Eight Best Dates.” Activists of the National Liberation Movement, which is headed by a State Duma deputy from “ United Russia» Nikolay Fedorov held a series of pickets in many cities across the country. Picketers in front of cinemas held posters with approximately the following content: “Vladimir Zelensky is a bloody buffoon” or “Zelensky is a sponsor of the murders of Donbass residents.”

It is strange, however, that Zelensky presented his previous film “Eight New Dates” in Russia in December 2014 without any problems. Although by that time the Ukrainian showman had clearly expressed his position in relation to our country. Nevertheless, the Russian audience actively “voted” for Zelensky with rubles: the film was watched by 1.6 million Russians, and it collected 335 million rubles at the box office. Let’s say, Krasnodar residents put almost 20 million rubles in the “95th quarter” basket, Rostovites - 7 million, Volgograd residents - 5 million...

This time, the civil protest against Vladimir Zelensky’s film worked much more powerfully: during the premiere week (which, remember, fell on the holidays), the film barely made up the production budget of 75 million rubles. Moreover, for example, all republics North Caucasus added less than 250 thousand rubles to the comedy collection. That is, in fact, the film was a complete failure in wide release. Of course, the Internet campaign had an impact. In addition, many politicians actively campaigned against Zelensky’s painting, starting from the deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Culture Vladimir Bortko and ending with the head of the North Caucasus Association of Orthodox Rehabilitation Centers, deputy of the Stavropol Regional Duma Nikolai Novopashin.

The Ministry of Culture of Russia headed by Vladimir Medinsky spoke out against the ban on the distribution of the film “Eight Best Dates.” Cinemas (at least those included in large federal chains) also did not remove the film from distribution. Meanwhile, in the recent history of the South of Russia, there are many examples when, under public pressure, films did not reach the audience. For different reasons.

"This is propaganda of ruthlessness"

The most recent example is the ban on the erotic melodrama “50 Shades of Gray” based on the novel American writer Erica James, which tells about the sadomasochistic orgies of a student and a billionaire playboy who falls in love with her. The film received an “18+” distribution certificate, that is, viewers were asked for their passports at the entrance to the cinema halls.

In four republics of the North Caucasus (Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and North Ossetia), at the request of the local religious administrations of Muslims, the film was refused to be shown. “It is necessary to delimit the limits of what is permitted. In pursuit of profit concert halls and film venues should not recklessly and blindly follow the lead of unscrupulous promoters,” commented the Minister of Culture of North Ossetia Fatima Khabalova.

They were not afraid to show it only in Karachay-Cherkessia, but in the end the distributors went broke - the film collected only 45 thousand rubles in this region. In Kabardino-Balkaria, the film earned 2.5 million, and in the Stavropol region - as much as 13 million (that’s approximately 65 thousand viewers): such a huge box office success is due to the fact that freedom-loving youth from neighboring Muslim republics came to the film screenings in the cities of Kavminvod .

Particular indignation of the Islamic community was caused by the fact that in the North Caucasus the priests did not demand a ban on the distribution of the film “50 Shades of Black” - a vulgar and base parody of erotic melodrama (although what could be even more base if “50 Shades of Gray” was recognized as the worst film of 2015 ). However, the vulgar comedy was refused to be shown only in two regions with the strongest religious traditions- Chechnya and Ingushetia.

Involuntarily, I remember the story of 2006, when many cinemas in Russia (including in the North Caucasus) refused to rent the film “The Da Vinci Code”, where the New Testament story is interpreted in a special way. One of the initiators of this ban was the then Archbishop of Stavropol Feofan and the Chechen mufti Sultan Mirzaev(the latter demanded not only to refuse to show the film in cinemas, but also to refuse to sell cassettes and discs with it). However, the protest excitement around the generally mediocre film only fueled audience interest.

It is also worth recalling that currently the State Duma deputy from Chechnya Shamsail Saraliev proposes to limit the distribution of Hollywood films in Russia. “Many American horrors and thrillers are real propaganda of ruthlessness, violence and immorality. How much do we need this Western ideology? Is it useful to us? This is worth thinking about seriously,” says the deputy. But as experience has shown, you shouldn’t even think about it. The viewer, as practice has shown, can decide for himself what to watch and what not. Just don't go on a date...

Let's see how the premiere of the film "8 Best Dates" went in Russian cities. After all, its creators were confident that the comedy would be an undoubted success.

It's a small thing, but nice. I would like consistency in this matter. If you help the fascists, you are faced with a “zero tolerance” regime. IN in this case, albeit not the most fundamental, citizens, through collective efforts and with minimal self-organization, managed to punish Zelensky with the ruble.

About the film's failure at the box office http://russiancommun.livejournal.com/128 649.html
In addition, the film itself, from a creative point of view, turned out to be a complete UG http://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/908406/ - on Kinopoisk 2.3 out of 10, on IMDB - 3.5 out of 10. But so much was invested in advertising..."

Now let’s remember what the film’s attendance was in other Russian cities. We are so-so - quilted jackets and marginals, but let's listen to what people professionally involved in film distribution say

Exhibitor's Bulletin - Thursday Box Office

POLINA KRYUKOVA
Film distribution manager for the Cinema 5 cinema chain (6 films), Nizhnekamsk, Orenburg, Saratov, Ufa, Cheboksary, Naberezhnye Chelny

Started Zootopia, 8 BEST DATES, TIME ERROR. Zootopia- Thursday's leader, which was to be expected. It collects twice as well in 2D as in 3D. Judging by the box office of the comedy with Zelensky, there is a boycott. There have been initiatives on social networks regarding 8 BEST DATES, calls not to go to the film, etc. GODS OF EGYPT, DEADPOOL are working. By genre, of course 8 BEST DATES approaching the holiday, maybe the sundress will work after all, people will go, despite all the political troubles.

GRIGORY BABAYANTS
General manager of k/t "Jazz Cinema" (6 halls for 1171 seats), Magnitogorsk

We got out . Good as expected, but a little weak for Thursday Zootopia, the preview showed good results. Viewers noted the quality of the product; a cartoon will be running on the weekend. Outright boycott of the film 8 BEST DATES no, but there is so much talk around this film that a certain atmosphere has developed. There are suggestions that the film’s low attendance is precisely because of this; our people are voting against the film. Work well GODS OF EGYPT, DEADPOOL. It's hard to judge on Thursday, we'll see what the weekend shows.

ALEXANDER VIGEL
Director By film distribution cinema "Kvadro-Film" (4 halls with 687 seats), Krasnoyarsk

We started Zootopia, 8 BEST DATES, THREE NINES, TIME ERROR. Everything is predictable, so far, perhaps, somewhat modest figures for attendance and box office Zootopia, but we see very good bookings for the weekend, I think this is the undisputed leader, the bomb, calm down for him, the sundress will be decent. THREE NINES, TIME ERROR- within their weight categories, based on the weekend. And a complete failure 8 BEST DATES, here is the expected effect, given the mood of the public last days, we were bombarded with angry letters about Zelensky. We, of course, say that the film has been given a distribution certificate, but the public says: “We still won’t go,” this is becoming widespread. Perhaps I should have thought about this. We'll see, until we heroically clean up, downsize, wait for the weekend, but hope is weak. GODS OF EGYPT still working FRIDAY, maybe it didn’t start so loudly, but we leave the sessions, it’s a completely suitable product, DEADPOOL we leave, ELECTION DAY 2. KUNG FU PANDA 3 It’s being finalized, but it will show itself during the holidays.

SERGEY SMYATSKY
Manager of cinema "Sochi" (3 halls with 512 seats), Sochi

We started Zootopia, 8 BEST DATES, THREE NINES. Naturally, the cartoon is the undisputed leader, although the start is not bright. 8 BEST DATES It’s not working well yet, maybe it’s due to history, I see the negative, it’s a bad start. GODS OF EGYPT work well. On the weekend Zootopia will attract attention, maybe the female audience who is not interested in politics will go to DATES.

VLADISLAV KLYUKHIN
Executive director cinema "Odyssey" (2 hall on 91 place), Murmansk

We have Zootopia started, unconditional leader, 8 BEST DATES, TIME MISTAKE. We continue to work with films GODS OF EGYPT, DEADPOOL, CHAMPIONS: FASTER, HIGHER, STRONGER, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, ELECTION DAY 2, OUT OF THE DARKNESS.Zootopia, 8 BEST DATES They'll work on the weekend. The last movie didn't do very well good story, there are few visitors, the wave of protest will, of course, affect the box office. Maybe the adult audience who don’t use social networks will go. The weekend leaders will be Zootopia And GODS OF EGYPT.

Manager of the Aurora cinema in Chelyabinsk Olga Nikolaeva reported that only two people came to the film: “There is no one else.”

Marketer of the Mayak cinema from Omsk Anna told the correspondent Nakanune.RU, What "8 Best Dates" started "below average": "On the day of the premiere there were not very many visitors. There are no reviews, few people are interested in the film."

IN Yekaterinburg in one of the largest cinemas in Shopping center "Park House", like others - but mostly without knowing in advance what to do, they ask: "Where can I laugh?". In addition, the famous beauty starred in the film: “They go to see Vera Brezhnev and laugh.”

In small cinemas there is almost no demand for the film, cinema administrator "Coliseum" said that the release began on Thursday, but the comedy does not attract full houses: "On this moment We have six people on this film, no bookings for the next sessions.”

It is known that in Saratov no one came to the premiere, and they decided to cancel the show altogether. Is this due to the fact that people are simply tired of formulaic comedies, or to a film where the leading actor is known as a sponsor of combat groups and operations against civilians in the Donbass? Zelensky criticizes “Russian aggression”, but does not stop acting in Russian comedies.

At the end of last year it became known that the leading actor Vladimir Zelensky turned out to be a supporter of the war in Ukraine. “I went to see Zelensky’s film - he killed a child of Donbass.” Such statements on social networks were the result of a scandal surrounding a comedy being released in Russia.

“Thank you for protecting us from all scum,” Zelensky says to those who killed Donbass civilians in the ATO zone ( this video is well known on the Internet). The video captured how the actor performed at the concert and bowed deeply to the Ukrainian militants. Zelensky-led studio "Kvartal 95" transferred 1 million hryvnia in support of "ATO".“8 First Dates” and “8 New Dates,” where Zelensky also played the main role, were released in Russia and collected a total of $14.9 million.

Before dMember of the State Duma from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Krasnodar region Sergey Obukhov called on the film company "Central Partnership" and the Gazprom concern to cancel the Russian distribution of the comedy "8 ​​Best Dates": "I urge you to consider the issue of completely ceasing cooperation with the sponsor of the criminal military operation against the population of Donbass by Vladimir Zelensky, in particular about the refusal to release the film “8 Best Dates” for film distribution,” Obukhov said in a statement.

The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation opposed the ban on the film. “Representatives of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation have repeatedly spoken out about the inappropriateness of introducing sanctions measures against Ukrainian cinema, as well as individual cultural figures of Ukraine,” the press service said in a statement.

There are many calls online to boycott the film.

“I won’t agree to this f... even for an extra payment.
Zelensky was not a bad comedian, until he confused creativity and politics, a sort of funny clown.”

User NMNH writes:
“It wouldn’t hurt for officials from the Ministry of Culture to ask questions about exactly whose culture they are bringing to the masses with money from the Russian budget.

p.s. In general, the best measure against these freaks (either this cheap clown or the Ministry of Culture) is a boycott. If you don’t want to see freaks in your city/country, boycott anyone who feeds them economic activity. As the classics said, “if you spit on the people, the people will wipe themselves off, but if the people spit on you..”. There is strength in unity."

“The artist Zelensky jokes on the screen. And in Gorlovka, 9-year-old Karina Belonog dies from a shrapnel wound. She dies terribly. It hurts, and she doesn’t understand why she was killed.”

"And smiles Vera Brezhneva. And in Gorlovka, a Ukrainian shell kills three children. Nastya Konopleva is 12 years old, Dasha Konopleva is 6 years old, Kirill is 1 year old. Dad was picking his body up piece by piece."

“The artist Epifantsev is grimacing cheerfully. And in Odessa, in the House of Trade Unions, Maidan militants are mocking the body of anti-fascist Gennady Kushnarev, who died saving women and the elderly.”

- Zelensky did not come to the premiere

In Moscow cinemas the film is shown with average attendance figures, in the regions they don’t go to see it at all. By the way, in the summer 2 015 painting "8 new dates"th" with the participation of Vladimir Zelensky was banned in Ukraine. And although nThe Ministry of Culture did not ban the film, but the people expressed themselves clearly.

The scandalous film “8 Best Dates” was finally released in cinemas across the country, but failed at the box office and was met with protests throughout the country. The film is shown in almost empty theaters, and many cinemas remove it from their rental schedule due to the lack of spectators.

A hit to the wallet

IN largest cities Russian cinemas suffered huge losses by including the comedy “8 Best Dates” in their holiday weekend schedule. In St. Petersburg, the halls are filled at most to 1/3, while for the first two parts of the film all tickets were sold out, session after session, during the first weeks of the show. In Saratov, 10-40 people come to the premiere. The city cinema "Pioneer" was forced to remove it from the schedule due to the lack of spectators.

On the holiday weekend before March 8, the romantic comedy, aimed primarily at the female audience and young couples, was supposed to become one of the highest-grossing premieres - a light, cheerful film about love with young movie stars. Actually, this is exactly what happened with the first and second parts of this franchise.

They planned to earn 120 million rubles from this tape in the very first days. And today, distributors admit that box office receipts will not be nearly as large.In the first of four days Over the weekend, the film earned only 8.9 million rubles, but by the end of the weekend it will probably collect around 50 million, which is 2.5 times less than the expectations of the creators and distributors. Director of film distribution for the film “Quadro-Film” Alexander Vigel comments with strange bewilderment:

“And the complete failure of “Date” - here is the expected effect, given the mood of the public in recent days, we were bombarded with angry letters about Zelensky. We, of course, say that the film has been given a distribution certificate, but the public says: “We still won’t go,” this is becoming widespread. Perhaps I should have thought about this. Maybe the adult audience who don’t use social networks will go...”

Alexander Vigel

“Perhaps I should have thought about this” is, one might say, the thought of the day. People who don’t care about anything but money in this life, apparently, can only be reached by hitting their wallet. That perhaps in future they will “think about it.”

And the hat is not mine, and in general I am out of politics

The filmmakers were prevented from “doing it beautifully” by civil activists: at the entrance to the Oktyabr cinema, where a triumphant red carpet had been prepared for the film’s stars, instead of applause and delight, protest pickets and condemning posters awaited them.“I went to see a movie and paid for the murder of Russians” , read one of them. Therefore, instead of posing solemnly in front of the cameras, as they undoubtedly imagined, the disappointed stars were forced to scurry from their luxury cars into the cinema building. Instead of template interviews about “how happy they were to take part” and “how grateful they were to the welcoming audience,” there is sullen silence and reluctance to answer awkward questions.

However, having left the street, where the picketers stood and the atmosphere was cold in every sense, our stars still opened up inside the cinema, complaining about how difficult it is for the audience today - it turns out that he cares about what people do, for the pleasure of seeing which on the screen you have to pay a lot of money.

“We don’t understand the insinuations that are happening. This is a good movie about love." , said the film’s producer Andrei Radko. They do not understand. They are naive. Producers, like all businessmen in general, literally suffer from this - increased stupidity and naivety. They don’t understand and that’s all!

“I don’t care what he does and thinks, I’m friends with Volodya, he good guy, I’m an artist and I don’t get involved in politics, it’s a dirty business. Who to believe - the bandits? All politicians are bandits and murderers." , - Vladimir Epifantsev is already saying this. A very characteristic position, I must say. Zelensky is a good guy, although he “gets involved in politics” - in the very politics that is a “dirty business.” Zelensky is not bothered by dealing with “bandits and murderers,” although he is an “artist.” But despite all this, Zelensky is still a “good guy.” But “all politicians are bandits and murderers.” That means everyone, both Ukrainian and Russian. It turns out beautifully! Zelensky, who fraternizes with the “right-wingers,” pays for the murder of civilians in Donbass with the parting words: "Thank you for killing the bastards"- here he is “a good guy, and our politicians, who, by the way, did not ban the film despite numerous requests and petitions, are our politicians “bandits and murderers.”

This is what we have here - the “creative intelligentsia”... Here’s something like this civil position They call it “being out of politics,” although somehow it doesn’t seem like Mr. Epifantsev is far from it and doesn’t have his own opinion. It seems that he very much has it, judging by what breaks out of him against his will, but he wants to pretend to be an “apolitical” “man of art.”

Ekaterina Kuznetsova spoke at length:

I am delighted with the film, I am so pleased that my fellow countrymen from the “95th Quarter” Zhenya Koshevoy and Vova Zelensky starred in this film, I love their humor, what they did in this film is wonderful. I am overwhelmed with emotion that my fellow Ukrainians are so wonderful.

What do you think about the action in front of the cinema?

I don't pay attention to such things, we creative people and should not delve into politics.

Ekaterina Kuznetsova

I see, one more " creative person out of politics...

Money doesn't smell

In fact, there is still a policy that all these individuals adhere to, a very simple policy - the idea of ​​​​"living well" as old as the world. Consume. Get lots and lots of money. And money - as you know, it doesn’t smell. And everything that stands in their way to money will be rejected with indignation. All sorts of “patriotism” and “civic position” are all bargaining chips.

If they are offered, for a good fee, to star in an anti-Russian film like “Leviathan” or some other “masterpiece” where the country is denigrated, then, no doubt, they will immediately have a own opinion about right and wrong, both civic position and politics will cease to frighten. If all this is paid for.

And if politics interferes with your career and stands in the way of your salary, to hell with patriotism! To hell with politics and your own opinion. “We are all in the tank,” “we are all creative people.” Creative people - as we know from the example of almost all of our writers, composers and poets - were not directly at all interested in politics. Pushkin, Tolstoy, Shostakovich, Dostoevsky - well, these guys were simply amazingly apolitical.

Here the State Department pays with grants and finances carriages of all kinds of socio-political events, participation in which implies not only involvement in politics, but also active participation in it. But they pay well for it.

And ordinary Russian viewers - wow! naive people! - they expect that the “creative elite” will suddenly profess some views and ideas for free, just like that - out of love for the Motherland! Where does it come from, love, if no one paid for it? No, gentlemen, viewers, you’ll get by, dear Russians - if everything is free, then we are “creative people” and “far from politics.” Just like that!

Ordinary spectators

This hypocrisy has finally filled people's patience. “Dating” was a complete overkill and the authorities acted very wisely when they did not ban the film. The participating actors did not become “martyrs of the regime” and “holy people”; the cinema did not receive the official status of “forbidden”. People were simply told in response to all the petitions: if this is really important to you, then prove it with action. Take a stand and don't go see this movie. And people finally realized that they cannot wait for film makers, who care about nothing but money, to become patriots. He made an anti-Russian movie - get a loss, invited him to play the role of a Russophobe - get a loss: that’s the only way you can do it with them. They understand this language, it reaches them. Now, having received a click on the nose, they already speak differently! Now filmmakers no longer chant: “There is no point in interfering creativity with politics,” no, now they say: “Perhaps we should have thought about this.” It turns out that it reaches them through the wallet.

So, in Moscow the film was greeted with pickets and posters. In St. Petersburg - half-empty halls. In Samara it came to the point of removing the film from the distribution network.

In Chelyabinsk, a single picket at the main entrance to the Megapolis Cultural Center was organized by the Young Guard.

Federal coordinator of the NGO “Young Guard of United Russia” for the Ural territorial group Damir Utarbekov comments:

“Money from film rentals can be used to support terrorist battalions that shell peaceful cities and kill innocent civilians. I believe that it is necessary to ban the film from showing, and I will personally send letters calling on the management of cinemas to remove it from distribution.”

Damir Utarbekov

In Tyumen, protest rallies are observed near cinemas.Single pickets from the LDPR party were observed in Kaliningrad.

In Bashkiria, Marat, a militiaman from Neftekamsk, decided to support the all-Russian flash mob and went to a single picket near the Arsenal cinema complex.

In Crimea, numerous protests are taking place at local cinemas.

In Simferopol, after a confrontation with the cinema administration, activists came to a compromise:

“I propose this option: we will appeal to the court and also to the Ministry of Culture to stop the film’s distribution. But now we will place our leaflets in cinemas right at the box office so that those who buy tickets can see where their money can go.”