Victory Day is approaching, and every day we’re highlighting a Soviet film that reveals a different facet of the war.
The Cranes Are Flying, 1957
Not all war films take place on the battlefield. The Cranes Are Flying tells the story of Veronika and Boris — a young couple separated when Boris volunteers for the front. What follows is a heartbreaking portrait of love, loss, and emotional survival during the Great Patriotic War.
Directed by Mikhail Kalatozov and shot by legendary cinematographer Sergei Urusevsky, the film is a masterpiece of visual storytelling.
Upon its release, The Cranes Are Flying stunned global audiences, becoming the first Soviet film to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes. It remains one of the most poignant and artistically acclaimed war films in world cinema – a visually stunning, profoundly moving portrayal of how war scars the heart.
Watch with English subtitles
