The Cranes Are Flying (Letyat zhuravli)
Directed by Mikhail Kalatozov
Written by Viktor Rozov from his play
1957/USSR
Mosfilm
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
#338 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
[box] Stepan: Our wounds will heal. But our fierce hatred of war will never diminish. We share the grief of those who cannot meet their loved ones today, and we will do everything to insure that sweethearts are never again parted by war, that mothers need never again fear for their children’s lives, that fathers need never again choke back hidden tears. We have won, and we shall live not to destroy, but to build a new life![/box]
The rare play adaptation that should be seen for its mind-blowing cinematography.
The story is a simple one. Veronica (Tatyana Samoylova) and Boris are in love. He calls her “squirrel” and,when war breaks out and he volunteers, he gives her a stuffed squirrel to remember him by. Parting is agony for Veronica. Soon enough, she loses her parents in an air raid which destroys their apartment. She goes to live with Boris’s family. His slacker pianist cousin takes advantage of her and they must marry.
Veronica’s misery doesn’t seem to end and she looks more shell-shocked than any soldier. The family is forced to evacuate to Siberia where she survives a number of calamities, always hoping to be reunited with the love of her life.
Cinematographer Sergei Urusevsky was a genius and his use of the camera in this film is only topped by his I Am Cuba (1964), also with director Kolotozov. The tragic story is well told though at times the acting strays into silent film territory. The propaganda is of the anti-war, patriotic variety. Samoylovna has one of the great expressive faces in cinema. Highly recommended.
Clip
Clip – opening
Yes, that cinematographer was a genius. That mobile camera is a lesson for all who wants to make movies.
The movie is also surprisingly critical, something maybe to do with a new general secretary in the Soviet.
I always remember Khrushchev as the buy who banged his shoe at the UN and told us “we will bury you” but he actually was responsible for quite a bit of opening in the USSR, particularly for artists, before the door slammed shut again with Brezhnev. Someday I highly recommend you try I Am Cuba. There are some shots in there that defy explanation. He goes from a coastline to deep in a swimming pool, seemingly without cuts. Here it is (no subtitles to distract from the images): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOLVm_9UcRw. Full movie is on YouTube now.