Tourist (film)

2021 Russian film

Tourist

Directed by| Andrey Batov (Shcherbinin)
Written by| Vladimir Izmaylov
Produced by|

* Sergei Shcheglov
* Genkirkh Ken

Starring|

* Aleksey Shevchenkov
* Alexandr Baranovsky
* Vladimir Petrov
* Yevgeny Terskikh
* Flavia-Gertrude Mbayabe
* Sergey Vorobyov

Cinematography|

* Garik Zhamgaryan
* Dmitry Arefev

Music by| Vitaly Mukanyayev

Production
companies

* 3xMedia
* Aurum Production
* Paritet

Release date

* May 19, 2021 (2021-05-19) (Russia)

Running time

| 99 minutes
Countries| Russia
Central African Republic
Languages| Russian, Arabic, English, French

Tourist (Russian: Турист, romanized: Turist) is a 2021 Russian-Central African Republic action film directed by Andrey Batov and produced by Sergei Shcheglov.[1][2][3][4][5] According to Matthew Campbell, writing in The Times, it is a "most eye-catching piece of propaganda", which depicts the Wagner Group, a mercenary force supported by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who sponsored the film.[1] It was released in Russia on May 19, 2021.[6] Dubbed in Sango, the film was presented to a sold-out stadium in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic in 2021.[1]

The story revolves around a group of Russian instructors visiting the Central African Republic with former police officer Grisha Dmitriev who end up fighting with bandits.[7][8] The film debuted at the Barthélemy Boganda stadium in Bangui.[9] The film was shot in March and April in 2021.[10][11][12]

## Plot

[edit]

In December 2020, former police officer Grisha Dmitriev joins a group of Russian military instructors sent to the Central African Republic (CAR) to train local soldiers in combat tactics. Grisha, initially nicknamed "Pioneer" due to his youth and inexperience, earns the new callsign "Tourist" and quickly clashes with a seasoned instructor, "Makhet," who harbors a deep disdain for police officers. As the instructors conduct their training, several militant factions mobilize to seize the capital, Bangui, in an effort to disrupt the presidential elections and stage a coup. Despite being prohibited from engaging in the conflict unless directly threatened, the Russian instructors find themselves drawn into several battles, providing crucial support to the CAR Armed Forces (FACA) and defending key positions against advancing insurgents.

The situation escalates when coup organizers target a remote, lightly defended FACA base near the town of Bangassou, where only ten Russian instructors are stationed. Reinforcements include local militia and a contingent of professional mercenaries flown in from Chad. As the militants prepare their assault, the instructors, facing overwhelming odds, brace for a desperate defense. Grisha, assigned as Makhet's machine gun assistant, volunteers to help a group of African soldiers trapped in a building and meets Catherine, a local fighter. The two are ambushed, and Grisha is severely wounded while rescuing Catherine. Despite his injuries, he manages to turn the tide of the skirmish, only to be saved by Makhet and another instructor during a narrow escape. Makhet, moved by Grisha's valor, reveals his hatred for police stems from personal tragedy, forging a tentative bond between them.

The instructors successfully repel the attack, preventing the militants from taking the base. Grisha and Catherine are airlifted to safety, while the coup fails, allowing CAR’s incumbent president to secure reelection. Back in Russia, Grisha reevaluates his purpose after a disillusioning conversation with a corrupt former colleague. Realizing where he can truly pursue justice, he returns to Africa, now a seasoned and respected fighter committed to supporting stability in the region.

## Cast

[edit]

* Aleksey Shevchenkov as Aleksey, call sign "Makhet" (Russian: "Макет", romanized: "Maket")
* Alexandr Baranovsky as call sign "Limon"
* Vladimir Petrov as Grisha Dmitriev, call sign "Tourist"
* Yevgeny Terskikh as Zhenya, call sign "Kuban"
* Flavia-Gertrude Mbayabe as Katrin, CAR army sergeant
* Sergey Vorobyov as Sergey, call sign "Yenisey"
* Georgy Bolonev as call sign "Korg"
* Gleb Temnov as call sign "Seventh"
* Sergey Garusov as call sign "Pamir"
* Bian Venu as President Faustin-Archange Touadéra
* Mac Armel as François Bozizé

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Matthew Campbell, "Wagner Group: the Russian PMC hunting Zelensky", The Times, March 5, 2022.
2. ^ Режиссёр Андрей Батов - о фильме "Турист"
3. ^ Турист
4. ^ На какое кино вырос спрос в России и в мире
5. ^ "Достоверность и реализм: чего ждут зрители от военных кинокартин современности". Archived from the original on 2021-11-21. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
6. ^ Турист
7. ^ Sebastian Shukla (28 May 2021). "Russian mercenaries get the big-screen treatment. The reality behind the film is as murky as the plot". CNN. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
8. ^ Eckel, Mike (24 May 2021). "In Russian Action Film, Bullets, Blood, Blasts, Bad Guys -- And A Whitewash Of Mercenary Atrocities?". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
9. ^ AfricaNews (2021-05-16). "New film shines light on Russian military contractors in CAR". Africanews. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
10. ^ Sauer, Pjotr (2021-05-21). "New Movie Depicting Heroic Russian Instructors in Central African Republic Linked to 'Putin's Chef'". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
11. ^ "'We fight for justice' Russian mogul bankrolls action movie about his mercenary troops in Africa amid allegations of war crimes". Meduza. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
12. ^ ТУРИСТ (2021)

## External links

[edit]

* Tourist at IMDb

Portals:

* Film
* Russia
* Africa
* 2020s

This article related to Russian film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template