Stories from the set

The filming took place in the Pskov region.

All scenes were shot on location or in specially built village houses. The filmmakers also laid a road, set up vegetable gardens, brought in domestic animals, and even installed a beehive.

To preserve historical accuracy, the filmmakers worked with archives, brought in consultants, and found a witness to the events — a local grandmother who lived in a nursing home.

During the summer filming, the filmmakers battled blooming lupines, trying to keep them out of frame: this fodder crop only appeared in the 1950s.

To recreate the rural life of the 1940s and collect authentic props of those years, the decorators turned to private collectors, employees of the Velikiye Luki Drama Theater, and local residents.

Fyodor Dobronravov was chosen for the main role without an audition. Producer and creator Marina Selivanova chose Fyodor from a photograph due to his physical resemblance to Matvey Kuzmin before work on the script began.

The film had to be shot in one of the abandoned villages, since inhabited villages had attributes of modern life: windows with plastic double-glazed units, bright fences, and satellite television antennas. It was necessary to build four houses, including the headquarters, the house with valenki, and Kuzmich's own izba. Fences were also put up, a road was laid, and vegetable gardens and beehives were made.

The 1940s clothing for the film was made based on modern clothing: to get rid of bright colors and modern dyes, the items were washed multiple times and treated by hand.