The Cranes Are Flying

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Virgo V The Cranes Are Flying is a 1957 Soviet war drama film directed by Mikhail Kalatozov at Mosfilm, written by Viktor Rozov and starring Aleksey Batalov and Tatiana Samoilova. It depicts the cruelty and the damage done to the Soviet psyche as a result of the Second World War, which was known in the Soviet Union as the Great Patriotic War. The film had a profound impact on Soviet cinema and won the Palme d'Or at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival, the only Soviet film to win that award. Some say that The Cranes Are Flying is a cinematic masterpiece with many notable features, including: Cinematography Some say the cinematography is one of the best they've ever seen, with Sergei Urusevsky's hand-held camera work conveying the characters' emotions. Others praise the film's medium- and high-contrast cinematography, which captures every shade of gray and the sparkle of sunlight on water. Story Some say the film is a beautiful story about the fragility of human feelings and the power of hope in the face of war. Others say the film is a poetic and resonant work that revitalizes the sensation that films can be magical. Historical importance Some say the film was the first great film of the "Thaw", a brief reprieve from the cultural numbness of 20 years of socialist realist doctrine. Avant-garde stylings Some say the film's near avant-garde stylings make the story even more powerful. Soundtrack Some say the soundtrack is exceptional, conveying the bombast of the score while leaving room for the nuances of the dialogue. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/02/25 Full Review Ekaterina P The cinematography is what is hailed the most about this movie, and it is undeniable, especially for its time. The close-ups are reminiscent of silent film techniques, reminding me even of the very famous shot in Jeanne d'Arc when Veronika is witness to the disdain of the men in the hospital, talking about the woman who left her war-fighting fiancé for another man. Some of the shots are spectacularly haunting, and the lighting is something to behold. When emotions and situations are frenetic, it is deeply felt. Some scenes are parallell to each other, like Veronika running up the stairs after the bombing, and Boris fading away in the forest. It is notable that the conversation about consent blooming in recent years has certainly changed the narrative of movies such as this. A New York Times review from 1960 calls the heroine "a sensitive Moscow girl who weakens and is unfaithful to her sweetheart when he is at the front in World War II." For me, there is no way around it - she was raped and forced into a marriage by an obsessive man. Before he succumbs to his horrible urges, he does lead a very powerful scene where he aggressively tries to drown out the sounds of fighter jets on a grand piano. But quickly, he falls from grace, and that feeble yet passionate protest falls apart, just like their city. This movie is beautiful and important, and definitely unmissable in the long string of WWII movies. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/02/23 Full Review Dani G Spectacular technique!!! Those moving shots, those sequences in the middle of crowds, the cinematography. Amazing low budget film that reminds us that all you need is a camera Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/06/23 Full Review bill t I am not SURE if I saw this before, and dismissed it at the halfway mark or sooner, or whether that was a completely different film. (this was at LEAST 25 years ago.. and I'm thinking it was a different film.) Anways, simply DEVASTATING and in the most part, BEAUTIFUL movie about War and what it does to lovers, families, and friends. I haven't seen too much of Kalatozov's work, but I should seek out more, because the film is truly a cinematography wonder, filled with simple, yet remarkable scenes, along with the most incredible one shot scoping scenes you'll ever get to see. Just incredible. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review spencer p A powerful romantic tragedy from Soviet citizens' point of view in World War II, The Cranes Are Flying is visually as well as narratively memorable. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review s r 1001 movies to see before you die. This is a cultural film that showed the shift in propaganda towards communism and its cause. It was real and it showed how people lose in war and even though that happens, life still continues. It was moving, and well made. A little dated, but it still is a great film. I saw it on youtube. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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