A gripping Second World War film left film-goers speechless at a premiere at the weekend.
Sobibor, which had its first showing to a UK audience at the Belmont Filmhouse on Saturday, was attended by the film’s actors, the Consul General of Russia in Edinburgh and members of the Aberdeen community.
The film is based on the history of the Sobibor extermination camp uprising, and Soviet officer Alexander Pechersky.
While a prisoner of war in the camp, he managed to do the near-impossible and organise a revolt and mass escape of the prisoners.
Many of the escapees were later caught and died – but those led out of the camp by Pechersky managed to join the partisans.
The story has been reimagined for a new generation through Sobibor, directed by Konstantin Khabensky, who also acted the role of Pechersky.
The film was introduced by the Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett and the Russian Consulate of Edinburgh, Andrey A Pritsepov.
Mr Crockett said: “We’ve always had a very close link to Russia and it is very good we see that underpinned in this weekend’s screening.
“We are indebted to the Moscow Caledonian Club, who ensured the film would be free to attend, and therefore making the story accessible to all.”
Mr Pritsepov linked the tale with that of the Arctic convoys, into which so many north-east men were drafted.
He said: “We should always remember those men, from Russia, from Aberdeen and across the globe, who paid the ultimate price for our freedom in Europe.
“Sobibor was a remarkable act of sacrifice and I was proud to watch it for the first time at the Belmont.”
Sobibor was released in Russia in May, and was chosen as a Russian entry to run for Oscar as the best foreign language film.
Wolfgang Cerny, from Austria, played the part of SS officer Gustav Wagner and travelled to Aberdeen for the first time to join movie fans for the premier.
Speaking at the Belmont Filmhouse on Saturday night, he said: “It is very important to share this story – especially with a young generation.
“The film holds back no punches and tells the story as it really happened.
“I come from Austria, and for many of us it was our grandparents or great-grand-fathers committing these crimes, and drafted into the Nazi regime.”