Stanislav Sokolov Movies

The ancient port of Odessa is the setting for this zany comedy about a woman's love for a mechanic in the merchant navy who stands her up on the day they are to register their intended marriage with the city. The jilted woman, Margerita (Ludmilla Gurchenko) is a photo-lab worker who had been ready to take a chance on a second marriage until her fateful rejection. She is so faithful to her fickle lover that she waits all day at the registrar's doorway, hoping he will show up. At the end of the day, resigned to her fate, she goes into town where her interactions with those she meets have good effects. When she runs into an old boyfriend, she does not encourage any renewed liaison since she still loves the mechanic. Towards the end of her story, the mechanic (Sergei Shakurov) unexpectedly comes back into the picture and suddenly, life may not be quite as desolate as she had first imagined. Both Ludmilla Gurchenko and Sergei Shakurov (a former athlete) are two of the most popular actors in Russia, and their presence, as well as the up-beat tenor of the story helped make this film quite popular on its release (18.4 million viewers). ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

A group of former soldiers try to rebuild their homes and their lives in the wake of World War II in this drama produced in the Soviet Union. Leonid (Oleg Borisov) comes back to his family a decorated veteran, but his medals came with a price; Leonid has lost his sight, and the depression over his blindness has led him into alcoholism. Along with his friend Grisha (Viktor Avdyushko), Leonid and other soldiers help to create a new city for displaced veterans such as themselves, but the difficult circumstances and Leonid's drinking eventually drive away his wife, leaving their son behind to watch over his father. While Leonid's life wastes away, Grisha gets a job at a nearby factory, and in time builds a happy and stable existence for himself, his wife, and their children. Things are going well for Grisha and his co-workers until the factory head is taken away by authorities, leaving the future of its workers in the balance. Rabochiy Posyelok received one of its few screenings outside the Soviet Union as part of the Soviet Cinema retrospective at the 2000Locarno Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Soldiers and citizens on the outskirts of Moscow combine to help fend of the Nazi forces that threaten the city in this patriotic war drama. Men, women and children take up arms to fight until reinforcements arrive. Their main defense is a small artillery unit with anti-aircraft guns set up in the kitchen of a woman whose husband is in the Russian Army. She bravely stands her ground in spite of warnings to evacuate. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide