Vladimir Kabalin Movies

In this distinctly Russian romantic comedy, step-siblings Kolya and Olga have been in love since childhood. Soon after returning from the military, Kolya asks for her hand, and they begin planning their nuptials, despite the objections of Kolya's mother, who was hoping that her rather poor son would choose a wealthier spouse. The happy couples' preparations are temporarily unhinged when Smirnov and his handsome, well-educated 20-year old son, Petya, come to town. Years before Smirnov and Kolya's mother had been lovers. The minute Petya and Olga meet, sparks fly and it is only a matter of time before they connect and make a fire. Romantically merry mayhem ensues until the whole mess is straightened out in the end. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Despite the fact that he is Jewish, Motl Rabinovich and his family have always gotten along well with his village neighbors. Even the fact that he's opening up what appears will be a successful dairy-products business provokes no resentment, because Motl has always been ready with a helping hand, a welcoming drink of vodka, and a friendly word. However, despite that, he frequently worries about the pogroms that plague his co-religionists elsewhere in Russia and fears that he and his family will perish in one. The only person in his village that Motl doesn't trust is a neighbor who is always coming by to complain about how he's mistreated by everyone. One day, that neighbor hears that elsewhere in the province a pogrom is beginning. He wants to be on hand at Motl's house to lend a hand to the Jew-killers and rushes on over. When he gets there, he finds that he's the only person there. Embarrassed, and wishing to cover his tracks, he asks for (and receives) a drink of vodka from his wary neighbor. When the pogrom looks like it is spreading, Motl, who fears that outsiders will be coming to abuse or kill him and his family, flees. However, he soon returns to his village, and he and the villagers work out an agreement: they will make sure that outsiders hear the sort of stories they evidently want to hear about how the villagers have persecuted and abused their Jew, ensuring a peaceable situation all around. The director of this film, Dmitry Astrakhan, later directed two popular crowd-pleasers: Ty u menya odna (You're My Only One) and Vsyo budet khorosho (Everything Will Be Alright). ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi