Vasili Shukshin Movies
- 1983
Three short stories involving alcohol in one way or another are strung together in this film, adapted by director Peter Bacso from the Russian author Vassili Shukshin, and first presented for television. In sequence, they are "The Insult," about a father who gets into a wild melée at a shop when he is mistakenly accused of being an alcoholic; "Conversation in a Restaurant," about two men who get drunk together at a nightclub and the next day, the younger of the two breaks his promise to bring the other along on a trip home; and "The Unexpected Guest," about an alcoholic who goes to a village to try to find his long-lost daughter. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Geza Tordy
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)
- 1974
This film was the winner of the All-Union Film Festival prize, and was extremely popular in the Soviet Union. This was the last film made by writer/director/actor Vasili Shukshin, who was a leading exponent of the Russian traditionalist cultural movement which idealized the simplicity of rural, village life. It is based on his novel of the same name. Shukshin died in 1974, the year the film was released. While Kalina Krasnaya clearly favors the simple life, it does not embellish or overly glorify this theme, unlike official party films in praise of workers; this may partly account for its popularity. Duty, guilt, delayed redemption and retribution are the themes of this movie, which has resonances with Dostoevsky's works. Yegor Prokudin (Vasili Shukshin) is an orphan who grew up in a criminal gang. While he was free, he did not lose his innocent, joyful heart, but many years in prison have taken away his joy in living. The film opens on the occasion of his release from prison. Soon, he discovers love with a village peasant girl, Lyuba (Lidia Fedoseeva-Shukshina), who restores his will to live and fills him with an enthusiasm for rural life. Their idyll is short-lived, as his former associates will not leave him alone. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vasili Shukshin, Lidiya Fedoseyeva-Shukshina, (more)
- 1961
Whether from the effects of war or just laziness, a World War II vet (Yuri Nikuline) has succumbed to heavy drinking and an aversion to work of any kind. One day he joins a collective farm, passing himself off as the father of a young woman (Inna Gulaya). At the beginning his old habits are still in full force -- until love comes his way and he considers his wasted lifestyle in an entirely new light. Although this standard drama by director Lev Kulidzhanov carries a theme of renewal and redemption, at least the transformation does not arise because of a political awakening. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Inna Gulaya, Yuri Nikulin, (more)
The Commissar of the title, played by Nonna Mordyukova, is a Soviet functionary wielding power over a remote Jewish village. Neither she nor the villagers care for the status quo, but over a period of several weeks both come to accept the situation and to establish a detente. The film's pro-Semitism was not entirely in keeping with Soviet policy of the 1960s, thus the film was shelved and hidden from the general public. Only with the thawing of East-West relationships, and the political upheaval in Russia itself, was The Commissar deemed "safe" for general consumption. The film was finally distributed in 1988, twenty years after its completion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nonna Mordyukova, Rolan Bykov, (more)
- 1975
The desperate battles of Soviet troops during the German invasion of Russia are chronicled in this epic film. The effort to defend the country is shown to unify the people and the soldiers, quelling their doubts about the regime. This film won the State Prize of the Russian Federation in 1977. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vasili Shukshin, Vyacheslav Tikhonov, (more)
- 1968
This five-part war epic, a kind of Soviet response to The Longest Day, was seen by millions of people in the former U.S.S.R. and the Eastern Bloc. Later it was shown every 9th of May on Soviet TV as part of the official celebrations for (World War II) Victory Day. The epic covers all major victories of the Soviet Army in WWII, including the Stalingrad Battle and the Battle of Berlin, the assault on the Reichstag, and erecting the Red Banner over its ruins. This film has huge battle scenes, with thousands of extras, and was extremely expensive to shoot. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mikhail Ulyanov, Vasili Shukshin, (more)
- 1973
A poor man suffering from tuberculosis is accompanied by his wife as he journeys by train to a sanitorium in Yalta. During their journey, the couple runs into a variety of people, from the abusive city-dweller to an unexpectedly generous thief. Once there, they are informed that there is no room in the sanitorium for his wife, and they have no money to enable her either to stay or to return home. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vasili Shukshin, Lidiya Fedoseyeva-Shukshina, (more)
- 1978
Stanislav Lyubshin plays the unlucky bookkeeper Vladimir in this distinguished stage and screen actor's directorial debut, based on the late Vasily Shukshin's stories and last (unfilmed) screenplay. Call Me From Afar was the Grand Prize winner at the 1977 Mannheim Film Festival. It is part of a Shukshin trilogy which begins with Pechki Lavochki and concludes with Kalina Krasnaya. In this film, a widow (Lidia Fedoseyeva-Shukshina) is told by her son and then her brother that she should marry again. She finds a likely candidate in a local bachelor, but during their betrothal feast, discovers that he is a reforming alcoholic who is occasionally irrational. Though she calls off the wedding, she takes this setback in stride. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lidiya Fedoseyeva-Shukshina, Stanislav Lyubshin, (more)
- 1976
At the time Proshu Slova was released, Soviet reviews indicated that the theme of the film was the contrast between the outer events of the main character's life and their inner meaning. With great courage and forbearance, Uvarova (Inna Churikova) endures the death of her son in a shooting accident and attempts to carry on the business of the city, for she is its mayor. Her big project at the moment is to get a bridge constructed to an area where much-needed housing may be built. However, she has run into tremendous local opposition, and feels compelled to take her case to higher authorities. As she carries on the business of the city, flashbacks show her memories of key events in her life. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Inna Churikova, Nikolai Gubenko, (more)
- 1970
Famous for his admiration of the simple and uncomplicated lives and attitudes of rural people, director Vasily Shukshin has adapted three of his published short stories and gathered them in this filmic anthology. The first episode, "Brother," is based on his story "Strange People." Visiting his brother in Yalta, the hero of the story is taken around to see places sacred to the memory of the playwright Anton Chekhov. At the same time, his brother nags him to marry a woman with her own apartment. In the second story, "The Tragic Shot," based on "A Thousand Pardons M'am," Bronka, a tall-tale-teller and hunting guide, spins a yarn about his secret mission during World War II as one of the men sent to assassinate Hitler. In the final tale, "Thoughts," based on Shukshin's story with the same title, a man living in the countryside recollects incidents from his entire life. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sergei Nikonenko, Yevgeni Yevstigneyev, (more)
- 1968
This glamorized depiction of Soviet youth traces three days in the life of young factory worker. Victor works in a Moscow factory. Not driven to ambition, he spends most of his free time hanging around with other young people on the streets. Constantly warned by his concerned mother to make something of his life, she becomes even more worried when he gets in trouble with the law. Although it does contain worker slogans and themes, there is not much to classify this feature as a propaganda film. This marks the directorial debut for Mark Ossepijan. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gennadiy Korolkov, Alexei Chernov, (more)
- 1970
A scientist and his young daughter live by a scenic lake. A paper mill threatens to pollute the pristine water causing the father and daughter to express concerns about the environment. She falls in love with the builder of the project before she realizes he is already married. Her father's death prompts her to move to the city, but she vows to return one day. The film is verbose, plodding and sentimental. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Natalya Belokhvostikova, Oleg Zhakov, (more)
- 1966
In the Siberian springtime, old Yermolay is surprised to find his oldest son Stepan on his doorstep. Sentenced to prison for participating in a drunken brawl, he has just escaped, three months before his scheduled release date. Family from the countryside all around gather to celebrate his arrival, though by evening a policeman has arrived to take him back to serve out his old term, plus a little extra for his escape. Following this episode, moments in the lives of Yermolay's other sons are shown. Maxim has spent all the time he was not on the job (he is a construction worker) looking for a special medicine for his mother. He runs into a solid wall of resistance from the medical establishment. His younger brother Ignace, who is a popular professional wrestler, simply phones around to a few of his friends, and gets the medicine easily. Vasily, the youngest, shows himself to be far stronger and quicker than his somewhat boastful wrestling brother. These simple and lyrical celebrations of the simple life of country-folk are characteristic marks of director Vasily Shukshin's work; this film is based on some of the director's published short stories. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vsevolod Sanayev, A. Filippova, (more)
