The Cranes Are Flying

Director: Mikhail Kalatozov

Release Date: 1957

When WWII begins, Boris volunteers to defend the motherland, much to his girlfriend Veronika's sadness. He is killed in a swamp, while saving the life of a fellow soldier. He is listed as missing in action, and no one knows that he is dead. 

When the blitzkrieg begins, people hide in the subway. During one attack, Veronika's parents refuse to leave their apartment and when she returns she find the building has been bombed. Fyodor invites her to live with his family. Mark is put in charge of keeping her company to cheer her out and falls in love with her. She ignores it, waiting for Boris to return. During one raid, Veronika refuses to go to the shelter and is left with Mark. It is made apparent that Mark rapes Veronika and she is shamed into marrying him. The family believes that she betrayed Boris. 

The family is relocated East. They work in a military hospital, but Mark spends his time partying. Fyodor discovers that Mark's deferral from conscription was not because he was too talented, but because he bribed an officer. He realizes that he took advantage of Russia, the family, and Veronika. He kicks him out of the house, while Veronika is invited to stay forever. 

Veronika finds out that Boris is dead, but refuses to believe it until she hears from one of his friends that it is really true. That friend makes a speech asserting that they will never forget those who died during the war and that peace must be maintained. 

Veronica represents Soviet women in the context of post-Russian Soviet War. She constantly engages our sympathy. 

Kalatozov directs the film in a visually extravagant style that is full of angles, close ups, and interesting editing techniques. The film is shot in a vivid, expressionist style that gives the viewer a sense of cinematic freedom that reminds me of Pudovkin and Eisenstein.