Guardians

Guardians

Year: 2017

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: Russian

Director: Sarik Andreasyan

ActionThrillerComedyFantasy

During the Cold War, the "Patriot" organization secretly assembled a team of superheroes representing various Soviet republics. For years, these individuals concealed their abilities, but when the nation faces unprecedented challenges, they are compelled to reveal themselves and embrace their heroic roles. The team must now confront threats while navigating the complexities of their dual identities and the political landscape of the era.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Guardians (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Guardians (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Cold War era, present day

The film opens in the Cold War with a secret Soviet program that mutates individuals into superhumans. Decades later, the narrative shifts to present day as the revived Patriot organization confronts a resurgent threat. This time span highlights the tension between secrecy and modern power as the Guardians evolve from government assets to self-made protectors.

Location

Moscow, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Northern Siberia

Set across the Soviet Union, the story moves from the remote wilderness of northern Siberia to Armenia and the Kazakh steppes, then to Moscow. The Guardians hide across these settings for years before reuniting to confront Kuratov. The climactic battles unfold around Noginsk facilities, a tower beacon, and the towers that loom over the city.

🗺️ Moscow 🗺️ Armenia 🗺️ Kazakhstan 🗺️ Siberia

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:53

Main Characters – Guardians (2017)

Meet the key characters of Guardians (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Arsus (Anton Pampushnyy)

Arseniy, codenamed Arsus, is a Guardian who can transform into a colossal bear-like being with immense strength. He spends years in hiding after the initial Patriot project, then rejoins the fight to defend the motherland. His loyalty to the team and his raw power make him a cornerstone of the group.

🐻 Bear-like 💪 Super-strong 🛡️ Loyal

Khan (Temirkhan) (Sanzhar Madi)

Temirkhan, codenamed Khan, possesses super speed and fights with curved swords. He roams the Kazakh steppes during his years in hiding before returning to aid the Guardians. His swiftness and weapon mastery make him a dynamic combatant in battles across Moscow.

⚡ Super-speed 🗡️ Sword-wielder 🧭 Loyal

Ler (Lernik) (Sebastien Sisak)

Lernik, codenamed Ler, can control earth and stone. He spends time meditating in Armenia and later channels his power to defend the team. His calm presence and terrain manipulation provide strategic support during confrontations.

🌍 Earth-control 🪨 Stone manipulation 🧘 Calm

Xenia (Kseniya) (Alina Lanina)

Kseniya, codenamed Xenia, can become invisible underwater, enabling stealth and surprise maneuvers. She travels with the Guardians and contributes to crucial infiltrations and escapes. Her underwater ability adds a unique dimension to the team's repertoire.

🌊 Water camouflage 🧭 Stealthy

Elena Larina (Major Elena) (Valeriya Shkirando)

Major Elena Larina leads the revived Patriot organization and coordinates the Guardians. She trains the team, makes tough strategic calls, and emphasizes responsibility and sacrifice. Elena serves as the moral compass and organized backbone of the operation.

🧭 Leadership 🛡️ Protector 💼 Military officer

Avgust Kuratov (Stanislav Shirin)

Avgust Kuratov is a brilliant but ruthless scientist who becomes a cyborg with the power to generate electricity and control machines. He builds a legion of clones and aims to prove his genius by dominating the world’s technology. His brilliance is matched only by his arrogance and willingness to destroy.

🧠 Genius ⚡ Cyborg 🧭 Power-hungry

Nikolai Dolgov (Major-General Nikolai Dolgov) (Vyacheslav Razbegaev)

Major-General Nikolai Dolgov collaborates with Kuratov, aiding his schemes. His ambition and political clout put him in direct conflict with the Guardians, and his choices ultimately lead to a fatal confrontation with Kuratov.

🎖️ Military officer 🗡️ Betrayer ⚠️ Ambitious

Fedor (Nikolay Shestak)

Fedor is one of Kuratov’s clones and victims of the professor’s experiments. He becomes a casualty of the power struggle between Kuratov’s ambitions and those who oppose him.

🧬 Experiment subject 💀 Victim

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:53

Major Themes – Guardians (2017)

Explore the central themes of Guardians (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🛡️ Power & Responsibility

The Patriot program grants extraordinary abilities, but the Guardians must decide how to wield them for the greater good. The story underscores the duty that accompanies strength, rather than mere conquest. It frames heroism as a collective responsibility, not a solitary achievement. The climactic choice to pool energy reflects this communal ethic.

🧬 Identity & Self-Made Heroes

Arsus, Khan, Ler, and Xenia don’t simply fulfill a prewritten role; they build their identities as defenders of the people. Kuratov’s claim of invention is upended when the Guardians realize they forged their own path. The narrative emphasizes self-determination, teamwork, and evolving loyalties beyond original programming.

⚗️ Science vs Ethics

The story centers on dangerous experiments, cyborg augmentation, and cloning that push moral boundaries. Kuratov’s thirst for control clashes with the Guardians’ sense of humanity, highlighting the risks of unchecked scientific power. The heroes’ journey questions whether progress justifies the toll it takes on life and freedom.

🌍 Unity Across Nationalities

Representing various nationalities of the Soviet Union, the Guardians embody a diverse coalition bound by a common purpose. The film uses their cooperation to illustrate how unity can transcend differences in a shared defense of the motherland. This collective identity strengthens their resilience against a multi-faceted threat.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:53

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with secret superhero teams like Guardians

Covert teams of super-powered individuals must learn to work together to save the world.If you enjoyed the team dynamics and covert heroism of Guardians, explore more movies like it. This selection features similar stories of hidden super-powered individuals uniting against global threats, focusing on action-packed collaboration and high-stakes missions.

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Movies in this thread are grouped by their shared focus on a 'found family' of heroes operating in secrecy. They deliver a specific mix of explosive action, cooperative problem-solving, and the satisfying arc of a group embracing their destiny together.

Cold War sci-fi action movies similar to Guardians

Alternate history and technological espionage collide in tense, action-packed stories.For viewers who liked the Cold War setting and sci-fi thrills of Guardians, this list finds similar movies that mix historical tension with superpowers or advanced tech. Discover more stories where geopolitical stakes are amplified by technological threats and heroic action.

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Stories in this thread often involve a clandestine arms race where super-weapons or enhanced individuals are the ultimate prize. The plot revolves around preventing a catastrophic technological threat from falling into the wrong hands, fueled by the paranoia and ideological conflict of the era.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their distinct aesthetic and narrative blend: the high-stakes suspense of the Cold War paired with science fiction concepts. They deliver a specific kind of tense, action-oriented experience rooted in an alternate version of recent history.

Unlock the Full Story of Guardians

Don't stop at just watching — explore Guardians in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Guardians is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Guardians Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Guardians, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Guardians Summary

Guardians Timeline

Track the full timeline of Guardians with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Guardians Timeline

Guardians Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Guardians that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Guardians Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Guardians

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Guardians: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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