Mikhail Kokshenov Movies
- 1977
Based on a story by Anton Chekhov, this film by renowned director Sergei Bonderchuk (best known for his film War and Peace) basks in the vast and visually magnificent qualities of life on the steppes of southern Russia in the era before the Russian Revolution. The story revolves around the journey of a wagon train bearing materials from the countryside to the marketplace. Riding along with the wagon train in carriages are an Orthodox priest and a trader carrying his nephew into town to receive some schooling. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Oleg Kuznetsov, Vladimir Sedov, (more)
- 1976
In this romantic costume fantasy for grownups, Tsar Peter the Great's sensitive and intellectual black Ethiopian servant Hannibal (Vladimir Vysotsky) is in love but is unwilling to force the issue with his lady-love. A privileged character raised in the Russian court, the servant argues freely with his master over many issues. Though the Tsar is busy with his Europeanizing schemes, he takes the time to intervene in his servant's amours, and tries to force him into an arranged marriage. The story is remotely based on the history of a real person, who married a German countess; his grandson was the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vladimir Vysotsky, Alexei Petrenko, (more)
- 1971
This Russian-made love story was blessed by Soviet authorities as being entirely wholesome. When Alexei, a struggling and very serious engineer, rescues rich-girl Zhenia from a group of thugs, she is grateful but would have left it at that. Alexei, however, follows up on their acquaintance, and Zhenia forsakes her previous fiancé to marry this stolid young man. Their courtship takes them all over Moscow. After marriage, Zhenia goes to live with Alexei. She is used to the finer things in life, however, and his apartment is extremely tiny and grim. She returns to her parent's home, and he volunteers for a work brigade in the frozen North. One highlight of this film is its very glamorous photography of the city of Moscow. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yevgeny Kindinov, Lyubov Nefedova, (more)
A young and carefree Cossack competing with a neighborhood rival for the love of a beautiful girl is forced to grow up faster than expected when World War I breaks out in this romantic Russian war drama from director Viktor Tregubovich. Roman is a reckless adolescent living in the Baikal region in the waning days of the October Revolution. Thus far, Roman's biggest concern in life was whether he or his neighbor would win the love of ethereal village beauty Dashutka. When news of the war breaks out and Roman is forced to choose a side on which to fight, he soon finds out just how big of a place the world truly is. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arkadiy Trusov, Petr Shelokhonov, (more)
- 1969
A Russian peasant girl barely survives on the occasional work she gets as an artist. She falls in love with a soldier, but he leaves her when the revolution starts. Finding work with supporters of the Red Army, she is arrested by soldiers in the White Army. When they fail to get her to renounce the communist propaganda on the signs she has created, she is sentenced to death. Irina Tchourikova plays the heroine who is willing to die for her beliefs. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Inna Churikova, Anatoli Solonitsin, (more)
