The Cranes Are Flying
(1957)
Directed by Mikhail
Kalatozov this film stars Tatyana Samojlova, Aleksey Batalov and
Vasili Merkuryev. A young couple is split up as Germany invades the
Soviet Union and the woman faces hardships and alienation.
Surprisingly for a
Soviet era film this film shows a lot of military defeats as well as
having a fairly depressing story line when I am more used to Soviet
cinema being used for propaganda. The plot is a bit melodramatic but
works well, telling a nuanced story with a good deal of subtlety.
Where the film is at it's strongest is in the direction which has
some great camera moves and some editing with more than a nod to the
old masters of Soviet montage.
4/5
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