Director Ilya Malanin explained why he used real car prototypes instead of computer graphics for his upcoming movie Battle of the Motors. Speaking to Match TV, Malanin said the crew wanted to maintain historical truth by capturing live races with recreated vehicles from that era. He added that computer graphics were kept to a minimum and applied only when required for safety reasons.
The film is inspired by the real story of Andrei Nagel, an early 20th century pioneer in domestic automobile manufacturing who launched an ambitious project to design and manufacture the first Russo-Balt cars. Ivan Yankovsky plays Nagel, while actor Borisov portrays engineer Dmitry Bondarev. On Saturday, Borisov, Yankovsky, and Malanin participated in a retro car replica race at the Moscow Raceway autodrom near Moscow to start the fourth stage of the Russian Endurance Competition.
Filming and Vehicle Performance
Regarding vehicle speeds, Malanin stated that driving at 70 kilometers per hour was sufficient for filming, although engineers were prepared to reach 130 kilometers per hour. He noted that cinematic speed depends on how the human eye views an object against the road, landscape, and surrounding elements rather than speedometer figures. Malanin explained that 80 to 90 kilometers per hour created the necessary dynamic feel, calling it a serious speed for those specific cars and conditions. He mentioned that the vehicles were lightweight, powered by modern engines, and capable of accelerating fast enough to reach speeds of 100 to 150 kilometers per hour.
Production and Release Details
Addressing how audiences might react, Malanin said he had no intention of delivering a lecture or dictating what viewers should take away from the film. Instead, he expressed hope that the final product would resonate with viewers and deliver the authentic feeling that cinema is supposed to provide.
Battle of the Motors is produced by Central Partnership, Kinoslovo, and Studio TRITE of Nikita Mikhalkov, in partnership with Gazprom-Media Holding and with support from the Cinema Fund. The adventure blockbuster will open in cinemas nationwide on October 8.
