Burnt by the Sun is a 1994 Russian drama film directed by Nikita Mikhalkov. It depicts the story of Colonel Sergei Petrovich Kotov, a former hero of the Russian Revolution, who enjoys an idyllic life with his family and friends in a countryside dacha during the summer of 1936.
However, their peaceful existence is suddenly interrupted when Kotov's cousin, Dmitri, unexpectedly arrives at the dacha. Dmitri is a charming and talented pianist who quickly wins over Kotov's wife, Marusia, and their young daughter, Nadia. However, Kotov is suspicious of his cousin's motives, especially given the political climate of the time in which Stalin's secret police were constantly on the lookout for traitors and enemies of the state.
As the day progresses, tensions rise between Kotov and Dmitri, culminating in a violent confrontation that reveals the shocking truth about Dmitri's true identity and intentions. The film explores themes of betrayal, political oppression, and the human cost of totalitarianism.
Burnt by the Sun won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1994 and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film the following year. It remains one of the most acclaimed and influential works of Russian cinema.