Soviet Cinema
various movies made in the soviet union (gets updated)
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- DirectorGrigoriy ChukhrayStarsVladimir IvashovZhanna ProkhorenkoAntonina MaksimovaYoung Russian soldier Alyosha earns a medal, but asks to visit his mother instead. His journey recounts various kinds of love during wartime.Oscar Nomination for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen
Palme D'Or Nomination, Cannes
BAFTA award for the best foreign movie
BAFTA nomination for "Best Foreign Actor"
a simple but beautiful story, very touching and sincere, excellent performances and amazing cinematography. a bit funny and sad at the same time - DirectorVladimir BortkoStarsEvgeniy EvstigneevVladimir TolokonnikovBoris PlotnikovIn the wake of the Russian revolution, Professor Preobrazhensky rescues a starving dog from the gutter, and attempts to transform him into a man. Based on Mikhail Bulgakov's novel of the same name.based on a classic Bulgakov story, "The heart of Dog"
poignant satire on the values of the communist regime, medical ethics and what it means to actually be a rational human being. brilliant acting - DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsAnatoliy SolonitsynIvan LapikovNikolay GrinkoThe life, times and afflictions of the fifteenth-century Russian iconographer St. Andrei Rublev.FIPRESCI Award, Cannes
dir. by Andrey Tarkovskiy
one of the masterpieces of the russian cinema and a film lover must-see (although with three hours' duration, quite challenging)
Unbelievable production, massive scenes and incredible (as always with Tarkovskiy) cinematography. Some scenes shot in Vladimir (the city where I lived). the context is complex, difficult to understand and interpret. This will one will require your full concentration.
Gives you a very good idea of life in the the Ancient Russia in times of the Tatar-Mongol invasion and the most famous russian icon painter, Andrey Rublyov - DirectorElem KlimovStarsEvgeniy EvstigneevArina AleynikovaIlya RutbergA satirical comedy about the excessive restrictions that children face during their vacation in a Young Pioneer camp.a hilarious story about kids and life in the pioneer camp. Lots of funny moments, right on the spot satire on the "inflexible" way of thinking
- DirectorEldar RyazanovStarsLyudmila GurchenkoOleg BasilashviliNikita MikhalkovA waitress from the provincial railway station falls in love with an accidental passenger. Before this passenger lies the menace of distant prison for the crime he didn't commit.Palme D'Or Nomination Cannes
dir. by Eldar Ryazanov
One of the classics of the Soviet Cinema, with the popular and beloved actors Gurchenko, Basilashvili and Mikhalkov directed by an outstanding director.
It is an incredible combination of funny and sad, the story evolves beautifully and some scenes are simply brilliant - DirectorVladimir MotylStarsIrina KupchenkoAleksey BatalovNatalya BondarchukIn December 1825, distinguished members of the Russian military, most of whom were quite affluent and of noble lineage, took it upon themselves to stir revolution against the autocratic and tyrannical Czar Nikolai I in the wake of his not honoring (or even acknowledging) the drafting of a constitution for the Russian people. The revolution failed miserably and the conspirators (known as the Decembrists) were weeded out by the czar himself. One by one, each of the conspirators confess and are systematically exiled to the harsh winters of Siberia, slated to work and wither in a prison/mine. The wives of the conspirators are faced with the prospect of leaving the bosom of wealth and family (including their own children) to be with their husbands in the brutal Siberian locale. If they agree to this, they face having their illustrious social stations stripped away and certain disdain from everyone around them. Among these remarkable women is a princess exiled from France who falls in love with a man soon to be exiled. The film is the story of their unfathomable sacrifice and their dogged desire to be reunited with the men they love, despite the conditions and the circumstances.a historical drama that depicts the decemberists' uprising in St Petersburg in 1825 and its consequences for the revolutionaries and their families, primarily the wives who followed them into siberia.
- DirectorGeorgiy DaneliyaStarsOleg BasilashviliNatalya GundarevaMarina NeyolovaMiddle-aged university professor desperately tries to strike a balance in his life between his wife and his mistress, slowly getting bogged down in his own lies.Pasinetti Award in Venice for Best Actor and Best Film
dir. by Georgiy Daneliya
brilliant acting. a very good combination of a melodrama with some comedy elements (some scenes are simply amazing, with the vodka drinking and the mushroom gathering, for example) - DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsMargarita TerekhovaFilipp YankovskiyIgnat DaniltsevA dying man in his forties remembers his past. His childhood, his mother, the war, personal moments and things that tell of the recent history of all the Russian nation.dir. by Andrey Tarkovskiy
another masterpiece by Tarkovskiy. Flow-of-consciousness narration, and, as always, amazing cinematography. reflection on one's life at the end of it - DirectorLarisa ShepitkoStarsBoris PlotnikovVladimir GostyukhinSergey YakovlevTwo Soviet partisans on a mission to gather food contend with the winter cold, the occupying Germans, and their own psyches.FIRPESCI Prize and Golden Berlin Bear in Berlin
dir. by Larisa Shepitko
one of the classic soviet war movies about friendship, war cruelty, betrayal and loyalty. not easy to watch. - DirectorNikita MikhalkovStarsOleg TabakovYuriy BogatyryovElena SoloveySt. Petersburg, mid 19th century: the indolent, middle-aged Oblomov. He sleeps much of the day. His boyhood companion, Stoltz, now an energetic and successful businessman, adds Oblomov to his circle and introduces him to Olga.dir, by Nikita Mikhalkov
an adaptation of one of the classic russian novels, "Oblomov". Brilliant performance by Oleg Tabakov, one of the most praised russian actors. full of ruminations about life purpose, activity and procrastination, and the meaning of it all. - StarsAndrey MironovAnatoliy PapanovRolan BykovTwo scoundrels try to find twelve dining room chairs, into one of which a fortune in jewellery was sewn.an adaptation of the russian novel "12 Stulyev" by Ilf and Petrov, a very well made crime comedy with some of the best of russian actors, Andrey Mironov and Anatoliy Papanov.
- DirectorEldar RyazanovStarsInnokentiy SmoktunovskiyOleg EfremovLyubov DobrzhanskayaA very good cop tries to catch a very insidious and extremely clever serial car thief. The bitter irony is that the thief is not very clever, absolutely not insidious, and a virtuous person and his friend.dir, by Eldar Ryazanov
another classic from Ryazanov, a comedy about a conscientious car thief, beautiful performance by the main actor, a very sincere and touchingly funny story - DirectorMikhail KalatozovStarsTatyana SamoylovaAleksey BatalovVasiliy MerkurevVeronica plans a rendezvous with her lover, Boris, at the bank of river, only for him to be drafted into World War II shortly thereafter.BAFTA Nominations for Best Foreign Actress and Best Foreign Movie
Palme D'Or Winner
dir, by Mikhail Kalatozov
again another classic of the soviet cinema with the theme of love and friendship in the times of war - DirectorElem KlimovStarsAleksey KravchenkoOlga MironovaLiubomiras LauceviciusAfter finding an old rifle, a young boy joins the Soviet resistance movement against ruthless German forces and experiences the horrors of World War II.dir, Elem Klimov
mentioned by a few sources as the most terrifying war movie ever made. well, that says it all. - DirectorAndrei TarkovskyEduard AbalovStarsNikolay BurlyaevValentin ZubkovEvgeniy ZharikovDuring WWII, Soviet orphan Ivan Bondarev strikes up a friendship with three sympathetic Soviet officers while working as a scout behind the German lines.Golden Lion Award in Venice
dir, by Andrey Tarkovskiy
my favourite among Tarkosvkiy movies. the movie leaves goosebumps after the credits and a heavy feeling for the rest of the day. - DirectorKonstantin ErshovGeorgiy KropachyovAleksandr PtushkoStarsLeonid KuravlyovNatalya VarleyAleksey GlazyrinA young priest is ordered to preside over the wake of witch in a small old wooden church of a remote village. This means spending three nights alone with the corpse with only his faith to protect him.an faithful adaptation of one of Gogol's stories. one of the first russian horror-fantasy films with special effects. definitely a must-see if you are into rural landscape and folk tales.
- DirectorEldar RyazanovStarsAndrey MyagkovBarbara BrylskaYuriy YakovlevAn incredible story about a man who misplaced the cities and found his love during the one special night - New Year's celebration.dir,. by Eldar Ryazanov
a movie every Russian knows pretty much by heart and the one that is watched every New Year, even nowadays. every phrase has already been memorized and every scene is familiar to the tiniest detail. an incredibly funny and slightly naive New Year Fairy tale from the favourite soviet director. - DirectorEldar RyazanovStarsIgor IlyinskyLyudmila GurchenkoYuri BelovA new chief of a "Culture House" is planning to hold a terribly boring New Year concert. A group of young amateur actors are doing their best to liven up the concert.dir, by Eldar Ryazanov
another new year classic comedy. a brilliant satire on the beaurocratic nomenclatura kind of thinking, but you know, in the end, soviet people know how to celebrate new year properly despite anything - DirectorVladimir ChebotaryovGennadiy KazanskiyStarsVladimir KorenevAnastasiya VertinskayaMikhail KozakovPeople living in a seaside town are frightened by reports about an unknown creature in the ocean. Nobody knows what it is, but it's really the son of Doctor Salvator. The doctor performed surgery on his son and now young Ichtiandr can live underwater. This gives him certain advantages, but creates a lot of problems.a sci-fi romance drama/comedy, an adaptation of a novel by Aleksander Belyaev
- DirectorEldar RyazanovStarsAlisa FreyndlikhAndrey MyagkovSvetlana NemolyaevaThe life of entire statistical bureau becomes crazy when an ordinary worker, a shy man, falls in love with a boss, a strict woman.dir, by Eldar Ryazanov
another classic romantic comedy from the USSR. full of funny quotes familiar to every Russian and used widely in every day life. Hilarious main characters and a good depiction of a soviet life style - DirectorFrancesco ProsperiEldar RyazanovStarsAndrey MironovNinetto DavoliAntonia SantilliThe mad adventures of the mad Italians, searching for the mad treasures in the mad Russia.dir, by Eldar Ryazanov and Franco Prosperi
an adventure crime comedy by Ryazanov, a lot of running around in St Petersburg so you get to see the sights. Andrey Mironov, one the best soviet actors, is as charming as always. - StarsMikhail BoyarskiyVenyamin SmekhovIgor StaryginD'Artagnan and his musketeer comrades thwart the plans of Cardinal Richelieu to usurp King Louis XIII's power.an adaptation (if not a very faithful one) of the Dumas' "Three Musketeers", with the passionate and handsome young Mikhail Boyarskiy as d'Artagnan. classic songs forever cemented in the our memory. a good period adventure drama-comedy
- DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsNatalya BondarchukDonatas BanionisJüri JärvetA psychologist is sent to a station orbiting a distant planet in order to discover what has caused the crew to go insane.Palme d'Or nomination, Cannes
FIPRESCI Award, Cannes
Grand Prize of the Jury, Cannes
dir, by Andrey Tarkosvskiy
based on the book by Lem, this is one of the most minimalistic sci-fi movies ever made. it is all about the dialogue, the characters and their interactions between each other and with the unknown. "A human being needs a human being". reminiscent of "Space Odyssey 2001" - DirectorIrina PoplavskayaStarsAleksandr MikhaylovAndrey RostotskiyOlga OstroumovaBetween passengers of the steamship there is a dispute on, whether that there are in Russia righteous persons? Nobody wants to tell about the life. And only one priest, though warns that he "the big sinner", decides to tell the history.based on one of the most important novels about the "mysterious russian soul" by Leskov, "An Enchanted Wanderer". what does it mean to be a righteous (or even a saint) person? is there redemption for your sins?
set in the 18th century russia, there is a lot of beautiful scenery, different national minorities are depicted (the cossacs, the tatars) the heroe finds himself in all kinds of situations while he wanders through the vast steppes and cities of russia - DirectorGeorgiy DaneliyaStarsStanislav LyubshinEvgeniy LeonovYuriy YakovlevTwo Russians push the wrong button on a strange device and end up on the telepathic planet Pluke with its strange societal norms.dir. by Georgiy Daneliya
a classic russian sci-fi dystopian movie. again, minimalistic and weird, with the invented "language" and some quite bizarre scenes, dialogues and settings