Aleksei Kapler

This little-seen and little-discussed film combines animation with self-reflexive, live action segments to embody the anarchic, satiric spirit of the poet and playwright Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893-1930). The film also showcases Sergei Yuktevich's fondness for formal experimentation. It is nominally adapted from Mayakovsky's play "The Bedbug" and his screenplay "Forget All About the Fireplace."

Typically of the heady days of early Soviet cinema, this is constructed according to the fast, sharp editing principles advocated by Eisenstein, complete with symbolic inserts; but in terms of subject matter, it's much less explicitly political than most movies emerging from Russia in the '20s. Chronicling a young sailor's descent into a murky, treacherous underworld of pimps and thieves, after having encountered a Louise Brooks lookalike at a fairground and missed his departing boat, it's a lively moral fable that delights in vivid visual effects and quirky characterisations. If the plot occasionally reveals gaping holes, and the tacked-on ending urging the clearance of the Leningrad slums seems to be rather gratuitous, there's enough going on to keep one attentive and amused.

Soviet film based on "Nevsky Prospekt" and "The Overcoat" by Nikolai Gogol.

No synopsis available yet.

A group of Russian partisans hiding within a remote forest attempt to destroy a nearby German airfield, all the while assisting a downed French pilot who happens to fall madly in love with a local girl.

Peasant children Mytyl and Tyltyl are led on a magical quest for the fabulous Blue Bird of Happiness by the fairy Berylune. On their journey, they're accompanied by the anthropomorphized presences of a Dog, a Cat, Light, Fire, and Bread, among other entities.

A musical film dedicated to the soldiers fighting at the front line.

Commissioned by Josef Stalin to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Soviet Revolution, Lenin in October was the first of Russian director Mikhail Romm's tributes to the Marxist visionary who helped orchestrate the insurrection of October, 1917.

People living at a seashore town are frightened by reports of an unknown creature called "the sea devil". Nobody knows what it is, but it's really the son of doctor Salvator. The doctor performed surgery on his son and now young Ichtiander can live under water. This gives him certain advantages, but also creates a lot of problems.

A Soviet cruise ship "Evgeni Onegin" is carrying cages with tigers and lions for a Soviet Circus. One loose monkey unlocks all cages, letting the tigers and lions out. Poor passengers and crew have no place to run. The captain abandons his post out of fear, and the monkey takes over the captain's post. The ship gets under total control by the tigers and lions. Only one lady is standing up to the challenge. Her name is Marianna, she loves animals, and she takes the situation under control.

A funny story about a life of a big department store and its employees and customers.

Historical-revolutionary film about Lenin’s activities in the first years after the Great October Revolution in Russia.

At the age of thirty-seven, the artist Sasha believes that love is the lot of the young. However, a meeting with test pilot Ivan Nikolaevich turns her measured, settled life upside down, reveals in her the unspent forces of the soul: emotionality, sensitivity, kindness, reverence.

The first day of the war brings tragedy to a peasant woman, Pasha. Her husband and her toddler son die before her eyes. She and the other villagers leave to go into the woods. Pasha leads the villagers to fight some German troops. Coming out victories, the partisans become a feared opponent of the Germans, with the leadership of Comrade P.

The film takes place in 1919 in Saratov. Student Kirill Izvekov becomes Commissioner of the Red Army and participates in the battle with Wrangel and the capture of the city.

In the center of the film - two lives, two destinies. A simple, illiterate soldier Vostrikov of the Tsar's Army during the years of Soviet power grew into a devoted fighter of the revolution, he became a general of the Soviet Army, respected by all. A guards officer, a brilliant prince Naschyokin, who fought against Soviet power, emigrated from his native country and eventually became a lackey in a port restaurant.

Kotovsky, who went a long revolutionary way and became the recognized military commander of the cavalry troops: commander, brigade commander, commander. Six times he escaped from prison, was sentenced to death, and again escaped to become one of the most ardent warriors of the revolution. His famous equestrian brigade fought with the enemy near Kiev and the Belaya Tserkov, at Nikolaev and Odessa, and did not know defeat anywhere.

Based on the novel of the same name by Konstantin Fedin. 1910. A small town in the Volga region. Kirill Izvekov, a student of a technical school, is only looking for his place in life, and revolutionary struggle is unfolding around him.

Semyon Primak, in the direction of the regional committee, arrives in one of the small towns of Donbas and immediately enters into battle with the chief of the mine, Chub, who, in a situation of continuous assault, plays into the hands of the Trotskyites and bandits operating in the mine. Having received moral support from the new secretary, the best 'udarnik', shockworker Matvey Bobylev implements a new method of coal mining and, contrary to the intentions of the enemy group, finds a wide response among the miners of Donbas.

Having started his working life at one of the large factories, the protagonist finds himself under the influence of criminals. Realizing this in time and receiving support from his colleagues, Alexei breaks ties with the gang and engages in a fierce and uncompromising struggle against them.

The heroine of the film leaves her husband, who does not allow her to study, takes her child with her and goes to medical school.

The heroine of the film leaves her husband, who does not allow her to study, takes her child with her and goes to medical school.

Comprising two segments, "London Will Not Surrender!" and "Our Moscow", the film showcases the air defense systems of London and Moscow.

About a young engineer's struggle for new, scientifically proven methods of working in drilling mines. His main opponent is a drilling foreman who prefers to be guided by his "sixth sense" in his work. In the end, engineer Geydar wins a double victory: he proves the superiority of new drilling methods over traditional ones and wins the heart of the old foreman's daughter. The film is considered banned.

A Soviet documentary chronicling a single day of the Great Patriotic War—June 13, 1942, the 356th day of the conflict. Filmed simultaneously across all fronts and the home front by 160 newsreel cameramen, and edited by Mikhail Slutsky at the Central Studio of Documentary Films, it offers a sweeping portrait of total war. Released in October 1942, the project captured the Soviet struggle against the German invaders in a single, coordinated day of filming.