Original Title: Letyat zhuravli
Directed by: Mikhail Kalatozov
Starring: Tatyana Samojlova, Aleksey Batalov, Vasili Merkuryev
Run Time: 94 min
As the kick-off review I would like to share you this rare gem. Sure everyone has ever heard of Tarkovsky's Stalker or Solaris but this one from Russia? I stumble upon it as I browse for something else and seeing the high rating, it intrigues me.
Released during Stalinist rule in Soviet Russia (In Soviet Russia movies watch you, so to say) I expect some sort of propaganda or communist glorification, but I was mistaken. There is no propaganda at all but a simple human story on how things greater than ourselves rule our life and most of the times, it is cruel.
You think Scorsese invent cinematic one shot tracking without editing? This one will makes you amazed that Kalatozov and cinematographer Sergei Urusevsky manages to use amazing and advanced camera angles plus placing to enhance the story.
Veronika's (Tatyana Samojlova) lover, Boris (Alexei Batalov) must go since he has volunteered to be drafted in the army at the front line to fight the Germans when they invade in 1941. In his absence, Veronica suffers psychologically, keep waiting for the mail from the front line to arrive. This absence is being used by Boris's cousin to steal Veronika's heart. Will Veronika survive? As she decided to marry Boris's cousin, she's facing a dilemma, being marked as a traitor (the lover is away defending the country and she's marrying someone else, a draft dodger) or facing uncertainty.
Life is difficult in Russia at that time and there are no easy choices. The story itself is very romantic and heart breaking. It encompass more than just love story, it is love for the country, willingness to put the need of many than the need of self and how war could really affect people who is not even at the front line.
Directed by: Mikhail Kalatozov
Starring: Tatyana Samojlova, Aleksey Batalov, Vasili Merkuryev
Run Time: 94 min
As the kick-off review I would like to share you this rare gem. Sure everyone has ever heard of Tarkovsky's Stalker or Solaris but this one from Russia? I stumble upon it as I browse for something else and seeing the high rating, it intrigues me.
Released during Stalinist rule in Soviet Russia (In Soviet Russia movies watch you, so to say) I expect some sort of propaganda or communist glorification, but I was mistaken. There is no propaganda at all but a simple human story on how things greater than ourselves rule our life and most of the times, it is cruel.
You think Scorsese invent cinematic one shot tracking without editing? This one will makes you amazed that Kalatozov and cinematographer Sergei Urusevsky manages to use amazing and advanced camera angles plus placing to enhance the story.
Veronika's (Tatyana Samojlova) lover, Boris (Alexei Batalov) must go since he has volunteered to be drafted in the army at the front line to fight the Germans when they invade in 1941. In his absence, Veronica suffers psychologically, keep waiting for the mail from the front line to arrive. This absence is being used by Boris's cousin to steal Veronika's heart. Will Veronika survive? As she decided to marry Boris's cousin, she's facing a dilemma, being marked as a traitor (the lover is away defending the country and she's marrying someone else, a draft dodger) or facing uncertainty.
Life is difficult in Russia at that time and there are no easy choices. The story itself is very romantic and heart breaking. It encompass more than just love story, it is love for the country, willingness to put the need of many than the need of self and how war could really affect people who is not even at the front line.
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