

The Cranes Are Flying
The compelling story of a girl's impassioned search for happiness.
Veronika and Boris come together in Moscow shortly before World War II. Walking along the river, they watch cranes fly overhead, and promise to rendezvous before Boris leaves to fight. Boris misses the meeting and is off to the front lines, while Veronika waits patiently, sending letters faithfully. After her house is bombed, Veronika moves in with Boris' family, into the company of a cousin with his own intentions.
TMDB
7.9/10
483 votes
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Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- Russian
- world war ii
- siege
- lovers
- marriage of convenience
- battlefield
- wounded
- black and white
- couple
- air raid
- anti war
- moscow, russia
- loveless marriage
Top billed cast

















Behind the camera
Gallery












Videos
Release dates
United KingdomGB
- TheatricalBritish Academy Film Awards18 Mar 1959
- PhysicalPGDVD5 Dec 2011
BrazilBR
- Theatrical141 Jan 1958
FinlandFI
- TheatricalK-1219 Sept 1958
FranceFR
- PremiereCannes Film Festival3 May 1958
- Theatrical11 Jun 1958
- PhysicalDVD / Blu-ray / 4K restoration1 Oct 2019
GermanyDE
- Theatrical1219 Sept 1958
JapanJP
- TheatricalG26 Aug 1958
NetherlandsNL
- PhysicalALDVD1 Jan 2003
- Theatrical12Digitale restauratie9 Jan 2025
PhilippinesPH
- Theatrical (limited)UP Film Center8 Sept 1992
PortugalPT
- TheatricalM/1431 Jan 1974
RussiaSU
- Theatrical12 Oct 1957
Frequently asked questions
The Cranes Are Flying was released on 12 October 1957.
Audience reviews
3- T10/10
talisencrw
5/11/2016
This was an equally outstanding and heartbreaking film. I haven't watched a lot of Soviet cinema, but from what I have seen thus far, it's terrific. It makes me want to investigate their oeuvre ever more diligently. Essential if you're interested either in Soviet films or war films in general, from the perspective of the people on the sidelines as well. Don't think for a moment they can't be just as shellshocked as t…
- B8/10
badelf
5/14/2023
Everything in this movie is technically perfect. In spite of that, the idea that a woman must pick the best man available really dates this movie for me.
- C7/10
CinemaSerf
12/14/2024
Just as "Veronika" (Tatyana Samoylova) and her boyfriend "Boris" (Aleksey Batalov) are arranging a rendezvous by the river, someone only goes and starts a war! That puts a major spanner in the works for this loving couple as he promptly volunteers for the Soviet army to repel the encroaching Nazi army. With her signing up to be a nurse and him on the front line, it's hard for them to stay in touch and that's when, wi…
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