The Cranes Are Flying 1957

The original title of the film is Letyat Zhuravli.

One of the earliest anti-war productions from Russia is a technically triumph, filled with intricately choreographed long continuous shots and jaw dropping lighting and cinematography by **Sergey Urusevsky••.

The story by Viktor Rozov is cliched by today's standard, but it wisely avoids being overly sentimental. Although Director Mikhail Kalatozov focuses more of psychological sufferings of war, not poverty and violence.

Tatiana Samoilova plays Veronika, a perky and charismatic fiancé of would-be drafted Boris (played by **Aleksey Batalov••). Tatiana totally sells otherwise predictable story. The story is ultimately pro Russia, showing USSR in as positive light as possible.

A great example of the early "Soviet thaw," but still plenty of Soviet nationalism remains. A true Soviet classic, permeated with symbolism.