The film "I Declare War on You" (1990) is a Russian action movie shot during the perestroika period. The main story revolves around officer Vladimir Erokhin, who returns to his hometown after serving in hot spots and decides to fight corruption and bandits. The filming took place in the Sverdlovsk region, particularly in Yekaterinburg, as well as in the Chelyabinsk region in the city of Zlatoust. These locations were chosen for their geographical diversity, which allowed for a variety of scenes, from city streets to natural landscapes. Additionally, the accessibility and logistical simplicity of these regions facilitated the filming process and reduced production costs. The film tells the story of fighting corruption in a typical Soviet city, and Yekaterinburg with the surroundings of Zlatoust were ideal for creating a realistic atmosphere.

Filming Locations:

Conversation with a Taxi Driver

In the Movie

Scene where "Vladimir Erokhin returns to his hometown after a long service in hot spots. He sits on a train, and when the train stops at the station, Erokhin gets off onto the platform. After that, he queues for a bus, preparing to reach his destination by public transport. However, his plans change when a taxi driver approaches him and offers to take him to the hotel. Erokhin, being a simple man accustomed to military discipline, is initially displeased with the offered price, which seems inflated to him. Despite this, he still agrees to the taxi driver's offer, perhaps out of fatigue or a desire to get to the place quickly."

In Reality

The scene was filmed in the city of Zlatoust, near the railway station. This city was chosen for its geographical accessibility and typical Soviet architecture, which was ideal for creating a realistic atmosphere for the film. Zlatoust offered diverse locations, which was important for a film requiring various scenes. Overall, Zlatoust became a suitable backdrop for the story of fighting corruption and banditry in a fictional city. Additionally, the film's director stated that local authorities supported the filming.

Cafe Ice Cream Vasilyok

In the Movie

Scene where Vladimir Erokhin visits the ice cream cafe "Vasilyok" after checking into the hotel. There he meets the cafe owner, who decides to close early and take a walk with him. However, their walk is interrupted by three local racketeers in leather jackets who come for the monthly extortion. The owner gives them the money, but when Erokhin tries to intervene, he is beaten. This scene highlights the corrupt atmosphere of the city, where bandits control many businesses, including the cafe "Vasilyok".

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the real cafe "Aysberg" in Yekaterinburg at the time, which was renamed to "Vasilyok" for the film. This location was chosen to create a realistic setting consistent with the film's plot. The cafe "Vasilyok" becomes a key place in the story, where the main character Vladimir Erokhin first encounters the bandits and decides to fight corruption. This place symbolizes the beginning of the conflict and the hero's motivation.

Hotel Krasnogorskaya

In the Movie

Scene where Vladimir Erokhin leaves the Krasnogorskaya hotel, and is immediately met by a stranger who introduces himself as Foma — a well-known figure in the city associated with criminal circles. Foma invites Erokhin to the cafe "Vasilyok" for a conversation. There he demands money from Erokhin and warns him to leave the city and not to appear again. This scene emphasizes Foma's power and influence in the city, and also demonstrates the beginning of the conflict between him and Erokhin.

In Reality

The scene was filmed """Hotel ""Krasnogorskaya"" according to the film's plot, but in reality the filming took place at the hotel ""Yekaterinburg"". This location was chosen to create a realistic setting consistent with the film's plot. The filming took place in Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg), among other places such as Zlatoust and Miass. The hotel ""Yekaterinburg"" was chosen for its accessibility and because it fit well into the film's atmosphere. The plot requires the hero to live in a hotel due to the lack of other options, which highlights the difficulties he faces upon returning to his hometown. Thus, the hotel ""Yekaterinburg"" became a suitable location for filming this scene."