Olga Zhizneva Movies
- 1970
Belated Flowers is a Russian romantic melodrama based on the works of Anton Chekhov. Because of the huge class differences that separate them, a princess cannot not declare her love for a handsome young doctor she has met; he used to be a serf on her family's estate. The doctor, meanwhile, has married. When she simply cannot hide it any longer, the princess declares her love to the doctor. She has a serious case of pneumonia, but neither of them is fully aware of it. On hearing of her love, he whisks her away to France. She dies there, in his arms. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Irina Lavrentyeva, Alexander Lazarev, (more)
- 1969
A lonely history teacher falls for an English teacher who was once his former student. Three days in the lives of the two, plus that of a literature instructor, are the subjects of this film that appeared at the 1969 Melbourne Film Festival. The history teacher deals with his wartime memories and takes care of his aging mother in addition to reaching out emotionally to the object of his affections. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Irina Pechernikova, (more)
- 1966
The impossibility of love between the classes forms the basis of this tragic tale. The story begins when a poor clerk falls in love with a princess. The smitten lad begins following her everywhere and writing passionate declarations of his love. She is touched by his affection, but because of the class difference realizes that their love can never be. He then sends her the one valuable thing he owns--a golden bracelet inlaid with garnets. It had belonged to his mother. Again the princess is deeply moved. Unfortunately, her insensitive peers laugh at the simple gift and the distraught clerk is so ashamed that he kills himself. The princess, against tradition, attends the funeral and offers her condolences. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ariadna Shengelaya, Igor Ozerov, (more)
- 1961
In this drama, set in the 19th-century, a painter of landscapes sees a young woman on a nearby estate and immediately falls in love. Unfortunately his revolutionary opinions meet with disapproval from her older sister and she sends her sister away. This breaks the heart of the painter who did not know of this until he went to her house to ask for her hand. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sergei S. Yakovlev, Ninel Myshkova, (more)
- 1947
Maria Redina of the Lenin Ballet plays Natasha, the Russian Ballerina in this well-made Russian romantic drama. Natasha is deeply in love with a singer named Alexei (Vladimir Kazanovich), and the feeling is mutual. Unfortunately, the lovers are separated by their own ambitions, not to mention a silly misunderstanding that snowballs into a major emotional crisis. Though it isn't The Red Shoes, The Russian Ballerina is a serviceable backstage yarn, highlighted by several beautifully photographed ballet and operatic sequences. Given the political tenor of the times, the film was not a success in the U.S., though it deserved to be. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1944
A Russian village struggles through the German occupation during World War II in this tense drama from the Soviet Union. As the town doctor finds his home has been taken by German troops, his daughter becomes involved in the anti-Axis resistance, and his son -- confined to a mental hospital -- escapes to fight the invading armies. Directed by Abram Room, who is best remembered for his silent features, Nashestvie was originally released in 1945, then revised for re-release in 1968; it enjoyed a revival at the retrospective on Soviet cinema at the 2000 Locarno Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- V. Gremin, Olga Zhizneva, (more)
- 1936
A contemplation of the New Soviet Man runs head-first into a romantic comedy with music in this film from the Soviet Union, which was highly controversial upon initial release. Dr. Stepanov (Yuri Yurev) is a well-known and gifted surgeon whose talent is matched only by his arrogance; he constantly bosses around his assistant, Fydor (Maksim Straukh), and his wife, Masha (Olga Zhizneva). Masha is beautiful and a great deal more charming than her husband, and she soon attracts the attentions of Grisha Fokin (Dmitri Dorliak), a young man who is quite infatuated with her. As Grisha pursues Masha, the characters debate the role of free love and free will within the Soviet social and political economy, as well as the juncture of the body and the mind. Strogiy Yunosha ran into considerable oposition from government censors once it was completed, and was banned by Soviet authorities after only two months of release, which led to director Abram Room's banishment from Ukrainfilm Studio. The film was later revived as part of the retrospective "Another History Of Soviet Films 1926-1968," which was presented at the 53rd Locarno Film Festival in August, 2000. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dmitriy Dorliak, Yuri Yurev, (more)
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