10 Soviet movies that everyone should watch

Russians are just crazy in love with these films and consider them to be golden classics of cinematography.

 If you want to understand Russia better, don't miss them.

Here you will find  TOP- 10 Soviet movies that everyone should watch (with subtitles)


1. The Cranes Are Flying (Летят журавли) 

A young couple is dating and walking around Moscow, they are happy and going to get married, but suddenly the war starts… They go their separate ways, she stays in Moscow while he is called up. They lose each other and suffer a lot. Will they ever meet again?

This is the only Soviet movie to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and an absolutely heartbreaking wartime drama by talented director Mikhail Kalatozov.

2. Irony of Fate (Ирония судьбы)

A symbol of New Year's Eve in Russia. Must -see on the New Year's Eve. 

This comedy is shown on TV every year on December 31.

 The movie was a massive box office hit in Soviet cinemas and was watched by 7 million people after its release. People love the brilliant acting, irresistible humor and unforgettable songs based on popular poems. Moreover, the movie dares to poke fun at the typical identikit Soviet cities of the time, typical Soviet apartment buildings, and even typical furniture, so that a man waking up in a stranger’s apartment house doesn't even understand it at first. Everything everywhere is too equal.

3. Office Romance (Служебный роман)

It was one of the highest-grossing films of Soviet Union, that also won a State Prize, and another success for director Eldar Ryazanov who also wrote the script. 


4. Stalker (Сталкер) 

The movie is one of Andrei Tarkovsky directing masterpieces and frequently joins various different lists of all time ‘best of the best’ movies. It won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Cannes Film Festival.

5. Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears 
(Москва слезам не верит)

The movie won an Oscar for best foreign film in 1981. Legend has it that Ronald Reigan watched this movie as he wanted to understand Russians better before meeting Mikhail Gorbachev, but it still didn't help him - but maybe it’ll help you!


6.White Bim Black Ear (Белый Бим Черное ухо)

If you wept all your tears watching Hachiko, prepare for a double dose of handkerchiefs and napkins. This film will just break your heart. A Gordon Setter dog born with the wrong color: he is white and has a black ear. A not so young man adopts Bim and takes him hunting. Bim is happy with his new man and is very devoted to him. But one day the man goes to hospital, and Bim runs to look for him… 

The film was nominated for an Oscar in 1979. The sad melancholy of the film, birch trees and late Soviet aesthetics - all this made for one of the most popular films of all time.

7. Gypsies Are Found Near Heaven 
(Табор уходит в небо)

A musical drama full of passion. Two young and independent gypsies fall in love with each other but neither wants to lose their freedom, so they don't want to get married. He is a horse thief and has problems with the police and at the same time with the gypsy camp of his beloved. What should these Romeo and Juliet do to stay together... 

The film is based on Maxim Gorky's short stories, which are in their turn based on legends that he heard during his travel across the Caucasus.

The gypsy artists from Moscow’s Romen Theater appear in the film and thanks to them we now have heartbreaking music and songs (and 64 million Soviet citizens watched it and liked it too).

8. Heart of a Dog  (Собачье сердце)

The iconic movie that became even more popular than the book that inspired it - Bulgakov’s short story of the same name. Quotes from the movie were spread as idioms across the whole nation. Moreover, the movie had a similar effect as a bomb as it was issued just at the same time when the book was allowed to be published after many years of Soviet ban. And for the times of perestroika poking fun at early Soviet years was very unusual and thus absolutely satisfying.

9. War and Peace (Война и мир)

This movie won both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the best foreign film. And without any doubt this is the best ever screening of the famous Toltoy’s epic novel, and one of the most epic scale Soviet films. 

10. Ivan Vasilievich Changes Profession 
(Иван Васильевич меняет профессию)

The movie is based on a little known play by Bulgakov. In 1973 it was the highest grossing film of the USSR  and it still makes millions of Russians laugh.




Source: RBTH