Teheran '43 (1981)

Teheran '43 Poster
Original Title: Тегеран-43

This story starts in 1980 in Paris as the memories of Andrei Borodin, a Soviet agent, take the action back to 1943 during the Teheran meetings of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. A high-ranking Nazi officer developed a plan to assassinate the three world leaders in order to undermine the Allied forces. He commissioned the German agent Max Richard to carry out his plan, but it failed miserably due to the quick action and thinking of Andrei. While in Teheran, Andrei met a French woman, Marie Louni, living in the city and they had a brief but intense affair. Nearly four decades later, the Nazi officer has been captured - but not for long. Freed by terrorists, the officer is hunting down the German agent who failed to carry out the planned assassinations. Max lives at Françoise, a young French woman, who hides him.

Introduction
"Teheran '43" (likewise known as "Tegeran-43") is a 1981 Soviet-French-Swiss political thriller film directed by Aleksandr Alov and Vladimir Naumov. The film stars Alain Delon, Natalya Belokhvostikova, and Claude Jade. It is based upon a book of the exact same name by Julian Semenov and revolves around an assassination effort on Allied leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin during the Tehran Conference in 1943.

Plot Summary
The movie is embeded in 1943, during World War II, when the leaders of the Allied forces - American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin - fulfilled in Tehran to discuss the progress of the war and plan their technique for triumph. Meanwhile, a Nazi intelligence officer named Max Richard (Armen Dzhigarkhanyan) produces a plot to assassinate all three leaders. Making the most of the truth that the security forces in Tehran are preoccupied with the conference, Richard plans to utilize a group of terrorists led by the fanatical Franz Shrug (Igor Kostolevsky) to carry out the killings.

Meanwhile, Soviet secret agent Andrei Borodin (Alain Delon) is sent to Tehran to reveal the plot and make sure the safety of the Allied leaders. While performing his examination, he fulfills Marie Louni (Natalya Belokhvostikova), a lovely and enigmatic Frenchwoman who works as an interpreter at the Tehran conference. Marie has a mysterious past, and as the two become romantically included, it is exposed that she is actually a deep-cover Nazi representative assigned to help perform the assassination.

As the Iranian authorities discover the plot, Andrei, Marie, and other Soviet representatives race to prevent the assassination attempt. At the very same time, Andrei should browse the hazardous world of espionage while keeping up appearances at the conference. He suspects Marie of being involved but can not bring himself to think her regret totally. Torn between love and duty, they challenge each other various times, exposing a growing number of about their pasts and present goals.

On the other hand, in 1980's Paris, another assassination plot is set in motion. Terrorists attempt to eliminate key witnesses who understand about the Tehran plot, including Andrei and his old friend and associate, Lazarev (Nikolai Grinko). Andrei gets assistance from French Inspector Bernard (Claude Jade), who need to also stabilize the desire for justice with his own romantic sensations towards Marie's developed daughter, Françoise (likewise played by Natalya Belokhvostikova).

Themes
"Teheran '43" checks out styles such as loyalty, love, and betrayal. Andrei and Marie are torn between their duty towards their countries and their love for each other. The movie likewise explores the ethical gray locations of espionage and the lengths to which individuals will go to attain their objectives. The complicated relationship between Andrei and Marie highlights the idea that human emotions and relationships can be simply as complex as the world of private operations.

Reception
"Teheran '43" was a major success at the box office in the Soviet Union and won a number of awards, including the Golden Prize at the 12th Moscow International Film Festival. The mix of political intrigue, love, and espionage showed popular with audiences, and the movie has actually given that ended up being a traditional example of Soviet movie theater.

Although criticized for its melodrama and romantic subplot, the film has been praised for its historic accuracy in portraying the Tehran Conference and the environment of the time. Alain Delon's performance has also been commended for recording the internal struggle of a secret agent torn between love and duty.

Conclusion
"Teheran '43" is an interesting political thriller that offers a look into one of the pivotal moments of World War II. With strong efficiencies from its cast and a story that combines love, intrigue, and espionage, it remains an important and fascinating example of Soviet cinema.

Top Cast

  • Natalya Belokhvostikova (small)
    Natalya Belokhvostikova
    Marie Louni / Nathalie
  • Curd Jürgens (small)
    Curd Jürgens
    Maître Legraine
  • Igor Kostolevskiy (small)
    Igor Kostolevskiy
    Andre Ilytch
  • Claude Jade (small)
    Claude Jade
    Françoise
  • Georges Géret (small)
    Georges Géret
    Dennis Pew
  • Albert Filozov (small)
    Albert Filozov
    Scherner
  • Alain Delon (small)
    Alain Delon
    Inspector Georges Foche
  • Nikolay Grinko (small)
    Nikolay Grinko
    Hermolin
  • Gleb Strizhenov (small)
    Gleb Strizhenov
    Simon
  • Mike Marshall (small)
    Mike Marshall
    First Terrorist
  • Jess Hahn (small)
    Jess Hahn
    Second Terrorist