by This past weekend, the Wellington Russian Club, with the support of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in New Zealand, invited compatriots and our New Zealand friends to a screening of the war‑adventure feature film “The Bunker” (“Blindazh”). The film was shown in Russian with English subtitles, helping English‑speaking guests to follow the story.
The event was dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 and marked the closing of the Club’s 2025 film season. After the screening, everyone gathered for a friendly reception, sharing impressions, discussing the film, and simply enjoying live conversation.
The film left a powerful impression on all — from adults to the youngest viewers. The atmosphere was truly inspiring, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
About the Film: The Bunker (2024)
During excavations in our own time, the protagonists discover a buried dugout. Entering it, they are mysteriously transported back to 1941 — into a Soviet trench at the height of a fierce battle against German forces. Face to face with war, they encounter soldiers whose names they had seen earlier that day on gravestones.
The film is not about death, but about life — its value and fragility. Blindazh is neither about hatred nor reconciliation. Every war eventually ends, peace inevitably returns, and former enemies begin to speak to one another again. The filmmakers’ central message is that humanity must always rise above hardship and conflict. It is vital to help one another, to stand by each other in difficult times, to fight for a comrade, and to love those close to us.
The film explores why people choose to give their lives for their Homeland, and how they sacrifice themselves for others. In the epilogue, Sergei — who returns from the past — says:
“They saved us all. And I was saved by a friend who remained faithful to the end, no matter what. In this I draw strength. In this there is hope. In this I see light.”
Impressions of the Evening
The screening of Blindazh was not just a cultural event, but a true emotional experience. The film deeply moved the audience: discussions afterwards were lively and sincere, and the atmosphere of the evening was warm and unifying.
This gathering reminded everyone that the memory of war is not only history, but also a living reminder of the value of human life, friendship, and mutual support.
