The film directed by Alexander Melnik is an adaptation of the eponymous novel by Oleg Kuvaev and a remake of the 1978 film. The plot is based on real events and tells the story of a geological expedition that discovers gold deposits in the extreme northeast of the USSR in the 1950s. Gold in the film serves as a metaphor for the ultimate goal for which people are willing to do anything. The main filming took place on the Putorana Plateau, the largest mountain plateau in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, as well as in Providence Bay on Chukotka, where an entire village for geologists was built. The film crew worked in conditions without cellular communication or internet, with communication possible only via three satellite phones. The filming process stretched over two years, covering different locations: the Putorana Plateau, Moscow, and Chukotka, where work continued until the end of 2012. Despite the difficulties, living conditions for the film crew were comfortable, with warm tents, kitchens, baths, and modern toilets. The airline AeroGeo provided transportation to these remote locations.

Filming Locations:

Plateau

In the Movie

The scene where the narrator's voice tells us about the true purpose of the gold prospectors. These people, knowing that their path could lead to death, would still walk it again. For in their nature there is an irresistible attraction to the unknown, mysterious, and beautiful.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on the Putorana Plateau, located in the northwest of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, on the border with the Taimyr Peninsula. It is the largest mountain plateau in Russia, covering an area the size of Great Britain. The name 'Putorana' comes from the Evenki word meaning 'lakes with steep banks.' This region is almost completely untouched by humans, with no cities or even small settlements. The plateau is famous for its stunning natural beauty, and since 2010 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected as the Putoransky State Nature Reserve.

Territory Administration Building

In the Movie

The scene where Vladimir Mikhailovich coordinates the exploration of the mine with the management. He mentions that his many years of experience as a tin miner allow him to confidently conduct such operations, as he has dealt with cassiterite all his life. However, he is told that there will be no 'vacations' or 'mines.'

In Reality

The scene was filmed in Providence Bay on Chukotka. The filming took place within the Beringia National Park, which covers territory and water resources with unique natural landscapes and monuments of the Bering land bridge. Providence Bay is known for its picturesque fjords, which are a rare and beautiful natural feature for the Russian North. The artists recreated an exact copy of the geological administration building in Pevek. 115 tons of timber, delivered from Vladivostok, were used to build the set.

Geological Station

In the Movie

The scene where a geologist carefully studies a map of the area. Hundreds of markings have already been applied to it, helping to better navigate the earth's layers. Under the dim light of a lamp, the specialist mentally plots a route.

In Reality

The scene was filmed in Moscow film pavilions. To recreate the atmosphere of the mid-20th century, the prop artists paid attention to every detail: they carefully selected furniture, household items, and interiors at flea markets in Moscow and neighboring cities. Part of the geological props were rented from the Vernadsky State Geological Museum and from private collectors. The work of the geological consultants cannot be overestimated: they helped make every element plausible so that everything looked as realistic as possible.