10 best films of the thaw period in the USSR, which are still watched with pleasure today

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The weakening of the hard regime that followed the death of Joseph Stalin lasted for about 10 years. The thaw touched not only the internal political life of the Soviet Union, but also creativity. The artists were given more freedom as censorship was relaxed at the time. In the period from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, quite a few fascinating films were released on Soviet screens, which became a symbol of the era. Viewers still watch some of them with great pleasure.

“The fate of a man, 1959, director Sergei Bondarchuk

At the time of its release, Bondarchuk's film did not leave anyone indifferent. In fact, the story of a Russian soldier who went through trials, the loss of a family and a concentration camp was close and understandable to almost every person. And the endurance and strength of the main character, played by the director himself, gave the audience hope for a bright future, for the right to live, enjoy every day, love and raise children.

"The Cranes Are Flying", 1957, director Mikhail Kalatozov

Despite condemnation and even anger from Nikita Khrushchev, he was and remains one of the most beloved by the audience. But exactly what Khrushchev did not like turned out to be close and understandable to ordinary people. They did not condemn the main character, they understood and accepted her pain.

"Welcome, or No Unauthorized Entry", 1964, directed by Elem Klimov

Elem Klimov's diploma work did not appear on the screens right away. It took Nikita Khrushchev's personal permission to premiere this satirical comedy, which was watched by more than 13 million viewers and highly praised by critics.

"Chairman", 1964, director Alexei Saltykov

The story of a front-line soldier who, after returning from the war, took responsibility for the people who trusted him with their destinies, still looks like a breeze. It is not for nothing that Alexei Saltykov's picture was recognized as the best by the Ekran magazine in 1966. Today it is perceived as an ode to the civic courage and fearlessness of people who are not afraid to go against the system.

"The Ballad of a Soldier", 1959, director Grigory Chukhrai

In the film about the soldier Alyosha Skvortsov, there are no battle scenes and military actions. But there is a sincere story about a common man in war and outside the war. People who lost their relatives during the Great Patriotic War saw their sons, brothers and fathers in the protagonist. And even foreign viewers were imbued with this simple, in general, history. No wonder Liza Minnelli revisited the painting by Grigory Chukhrai five times in a row.

"Father of a Soldier", 1964, directed by Rezo Chkheidze

Rezo Chkheidze's film about the fate of people in wartime turned out to be so poignant that it changed the minds of people. Soon after the release of the picture on the screens in Sevastopol, a young man came to the police and confessed to the crime. The law enforcement officers had almost no chance to uncover that theft, but the criminal himself, having watched the film "Soldier's Father", came to the police to start his life from scratch.

"Noisy Day", 1960, directors Anatoly Efros and Georgy Natanson

The film by Anatoly Efros and Georgy Natanson can rightfully be called a symbol of the Soviet era. You can feel spiritual strength and purity in him, and a simple plot makes you look at familiar things from a different angle, gives you inspiration, makes you think and gives hope.

"The Living and the Dead", 1963, director Alexander Stolper

The war drama, based on the first part of the novel of the same name by Konstantin Simonov, tells about the first, most difficult and dramatic days of the Great Patriotic War. The film stars the best Soviet actors (Kirill Lavrov, Anatoly Papanov, Oleg Efremov, Mikhail Ulyanov, Oleg Tabakov and others). Each of them did not play, but lived out his role. Perhaps that is why the painting "The Living and the Dead" turned out to be so sincere and strong.

The Golden Calf, 1968, directed by Mikhail Schweitzer

It was hardly possible to find a person in the Soviet Union who would not have seen this film about the great strategist Ostap Bender, based on the work of the same name by Ilf and Petrov. Sparkling humor, a slight hint of light sadness, great actors - all this forced the audience to revise the picture over and over again, trying not to miss a single detail.

"Republic SHKID", 1966, directed by Gennady Poloka

The impact of this film on the audience can be assessed by the fact that in Soviet times, many children tried to imitate the characters. And having matured, they revisited a simple story, enjoyed again and again a beautiful picture of youth, friendship, hope and life itself. The black and white picture actually turned out to be bright and colorful thanks to the talented acting and the director's skill.

Many wonderful films from famous directors and their budding colleagues are released every year. Some are forgotten after the first viewing, others watched for many years, despite the fact that the plot has long been known, and many of the phrases spoken by the characters on the screen, the audience already knows by heart.