The film begins with young Lieutenant Kolya Pluzhnikov receiving an assignment to a permanent duty station and arriving in Brest. However, he does not manage to get onto the official military lists, and at four in the morning, when the first artillery salvos ring out, the war begins. Despite the fact that he is not formally listed in the garrison of the Brest Fortress, Pluzhnikov enters his first battle, which will last ten months. The film's producer, Vladimir Mashkov, emphasizes the significance of this story for both viewers and the film crew: «This is an outstanding work, filled with Boris Vasiliev's life experience and his deep insight into human destiny. We are very carefully and accurately recreating all the circumstances of this difficult but incredibly important story». To convey the atmosphere of pre-war Belarus, filming will take place on the streets of Minsk and Brest, and large-scale battle scenes will unfold on the territory of the memorial complex «Brest Hero Fortress». In addition, large-scale sets of the Brest Fortress are being built at the Moskino film park for the film. The premiere of the film «He Was Not on the Lists» will be timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Victory in 2025.

Filming Locations:

Fortress Walls

In the Film

Scene where flames burst from the steel nozzles of German soldiers' flamethrowers, engulfing everything around. Tongues of fire greedily lick the stone walls of the fortress, breaking through broken doors. The soldiers do not shoot rifles, do not shout—they only methodically release streams of fire, turning every shelter into a fiery hell.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the memorial complex «Brest Hero Fortress», which is located on the Central Island of the fortress—the Citadel, as well as in the eastern part of the Kobrin fortification. This place has become a symbol of the steadfastness and courage of Soviet soldiers who took the first blow of the German army on June 22, 1941. The main entrance is greeted by a massive concrete structure with a carved star, through which a portal to the past seems to open.

Casemates

In the Film

Scene where Lieutenant Kolya Pluzhnikov arrived at the Brest Fortress and was met by the commander. After a brief conversation, he descended the stone steps into the depths of the fortress. Pluzhnikov quickly oriented himself and headed to a table where a modest dinner was served to him.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on the territory of the Moskino film park, which provided unique opportunities for creating large-scale outdoor sets of the Brest Fortress. On the site, huge, detailed fortifications were built, accurately recreating the architecture of the real fortress—high stone walls with deep cracks and traces of shell impacts, massive gates with iron rivets, and narrow embrasures.