The true story behind Moscow’s new big-budget racing movie: How Imperial Russia’s first Monte Carlo Rally team crossed Europe in 1912 without a windshield
On October 8, Ilya Malanin’s film “Bitva motorov” (“Battle of the Motors”) opened in Russian theaters. Starring Yura Borisov and Ivan Yankovsky, it tells the story of a Russian team that competed in the 1912 Monte Carlo Rally in a Russo-Balt car. The historical adventure drama draws heavily on real events, though its creators emphasize that it takes plenty of artistic liberties. Writing for…
In 1912, Russian filmmaker Ilya Malanin's film "Bitva motorov" ("Battle of the Motors") showcased the journey of a Russian team competing in the Monte Carlo Rally. The movie portrays Avtomobil magazine publisher Andrey Nagel, played by Ivan Yankovsky, as the protagonist who dreams of building a Russian car. Nagel teams up with mechanic Dmitry Bondarev, and together they form a team to create the Russo-Balt car.
They enter the famous 3,000-kilometer rally from St. Petersburg to Monaco, facing challenges such as snow and mud along the way. The film takes creative liberties, with Bondarev being replaced by Avtomobil employee Vadim Mikhailov, and Emperor Nicholas II portrayed as a charming jokester. The film focuses more on the technical aspects of the Russo-Balt car's creation rather than the characters' relationships or politics.
The 1912 Monte Carlo Rally was significant for Russia's auto industry as it marked the first appearance of a Russian team in the race, showcasing the country's first technologically advanced and fastest vehicle ever built in the Russian Empire.
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