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The Cranes Are Flying
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The Cranes Are Flying

1957
Romance
Drama
1h 35m
Veronica plans a rendezvous with her lover, Boris, at the bank of river, only for him to be drafted into World War II shortly thereafter. (imdb)
Directed by:
Mikhail Kalatozov Mikhail Kalatozov
Written by:
Viktor Rozov
Starring:
Tatyana Samojlova Tatyana Samojlova Aleksey Batalov Aleksey Batalov Vasili Merkuryev Vasili Merkuryev Aleksandr Shvorin Aleksandr Shvorin Svetlana Kharitonova Svetlana Kharitonova Konstantin Nikitin Konstantin Nikitin
More
Genres:
Romance, Drama, War
AKA:
Letyat zhuravli
Country:
Soviet Union
Language:
Russian
imdb More information at IMDb
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The Cranes Are Flying

1957
Romance
Drama
1h 35m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 76.79% from 955 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 20 Dec 2006
92
96th
A beautiful heartache of a film. Kalatozov touches on love, fidelity, honor and the dreadful effects of war, with expert assistance by cinematographer Urusevsky, who dazzles us with magnificent compositions and a fluid camera. I do have to say that the film lays on the melodrama (and the score) rather thick, but it's still a wonderful film with a marvelous tear-jerker ending.
Rated 20 Dec 2006
eveeluneveelun
Rated 14 Aug 2007
91
98th
The cinematography is incredible; the camerawork is dynamic and exciting, yet it never feels artificial or unwarranted. There are some simply amazing sequences that rely on clever and striking juxtapositions - overall the film feels very fresh and genuine.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 06 Jun 2008
93
98th
A fantastic, beautiful film filled with joy and heartbreak. The performances are excellent but it's the wonderful cinematography that drives the film. Such exquisitely beautiful shots, graceful camera movement, I just can't praise the film enough. And the commentary on war and love is really well done, understated but unmistakable.
Rated 06 Jun 2008
djrossdjross
Rated 05 Jan 2017
80
91st
The remarkable way in which the camera mediates between the protagonists and the crowd is appropriate for a film whose theme is really the relationship between the individual and the collective. Affecting tale with good performances and a beautiful lead actress. A war film with very few battle scenes, concerned more with the emotional conflicts of non-combatants, which is infinitely to its credit and rarer than one might imagine.
Rated 05 Jan 2017
goremeatgoremeat
Rated 02 Feb 2012
90
95th
Seeing this for free at the Art Gallery of NSW was a real treat. It carried itself with a genuine regard for human sensibility - carefully treading the edge of melodrama without falling over. The photography was elegant at all times - especially a marvellous moving shot up through a bomb-destroyed building. With the exception of an awkward family feud angle, a majestically executed vision of the pain of war for those left at home.
Rated 02 Feb 2012
svan81svan81
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
98th
The Cranes Are Flying, directed by Mikheil Kalatozishvili, follows the story of Veronica and Boris, two lovers in Moscow during World War I. It is a beautiful film with a chilling anti-war message. Tatyana Samojlova gives one of the best female performances of all time and gives this film a tragic emotion that bleeds through the frame. In this film, you see some of the brilliant cinematography of Kalatozishvili and Sergei Uresevsky, which shows perhaps a beginning of what will become their masterpiece in I Am Cuba.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
anilscnanilscn
Rated 06 Feb 2022
85
97th
film budur işte
Rated 06 Feb 2022
nobletNoblet
Rated 30 Jan 2012
88
91st
A rather beautiful and touching film. The camerawork is very impressive, particularly when the camera is gliding through huge crowds, capturing the expressions of dozens of people who feel like they all have their own story that could be just as interesting as Veronica's. On that note, I really appreciated seeing the effects of the war from an everyday woman's point of view, as melodramatic as it is.
Rated 30 Jan 2012
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 28 Jun 2011
5
91st
Melodrama in time of war. Kalatozov's films bear comparisons with Welles in their striking imagery, dynamic camera movement and expert use of shadow and light, but at times displaying a freneticism that's beyond even Welles. The tear-jerker of a romance is simplistic but affecting and graceful; Kalatozov is a hell of a propagandist.
Rated 28 Jun 2011
magbMagb
Rated 27 Nov 2007
90
85th
This film doesn't have much of the flashy cinematography of I Am Cuba. Instead, it has a story that you can actually care about. It's a simple story, sure, but it has pathos, and the solid acting sells it. And despite the lack of flashiness, the film's cinematography is more than serviceable. The end of the film in particular emphasizes qualities such as humanitarianism and pacifism, without tying itself down to a specific point in history or a specific theory of politics.
Rated 27 Nov 2007
sinemysinemy
Rated 27 Jul 2020
100
97th
ve lütfen bana Veronika deme.
Rated 27 Jul 2020
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 06 Feb 2010
10
97th
It brushes the line of melodrama, yet never crosses it, which is probably the best compliment I can give to this film. Both genuinely heartfelt and meticulously orchestrated, this film reaches perfection on so many levels (Samojlova was amazing). A masterpiece from Kalatozov, I definitely need to check out more of his work.
Rated 06 Feb 2010
neonmanNeonman
Rated 22 Jan 2018
80
63rd
An astonishingly stylish account of romance during war-time that's made all the more emotional by the riveting and dizzying camera-work and editing. Doesn't sustain this sort of excitement all the way throughout, but there's some particularly affecting scenes near the beginning, as well as the final scene
Rated 22 Jan 2018
shalevshalev
Rated 20 Sep 2010
90
95th
The story is quite simple but works great, propoganda is present but can easily be overlooked. The photography however is just briliant, every frame is a beauty and works great with the atmosphere and the story. That, along with Samojlova's great performance and captivating presence elevates this into a masterpiece.
Rated 20 Sep 2010
selcukburcakselcukburcak
Rated 28 Sep 2021
73
60th
"şu kadınlar faşistlerden beter, doğrudan kalbi hedef alıyorlar."
Rated 28 Sep 2021
metropolitanMetropolitan
Rated 28 Apr 2016
75
53rd
It could be a solid 85 but melodrama is pretty outdated genre and from time to time you can see it in this movie too. Astounding cinematography keeps it alive.
Rated 28 Apr 2016
dean_franzDean Franz
Rated 15 Jul 2011
92
91st
Cracking good melodrama done in grand, almost Wellesian style, juxtaposed with some of the finest propaganda ever captured on film. The directing is above top drawer, the acting (especially by Samojlova) is delightful and it's all captured with some of the most eyepoppingly gorgeous cinematography you'll ever see. It combines grittiness with unabashed romanticism in a way only rivaled by "Rocco & his Brothers".
Rated 15 Jul 2011
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 01 Aug 2020
70
56th
Honestly the melodrama was hokier than I expected. Makes me think the film's acclaim is as much about the circumstances of its creation as its standalone quality. Undeniably some really great lighting compositions though.
Rated 01 Aug 2020
rufamRufam
Rated 08 Apr 2014
75
72nd
Kalatozov is obviously a visionary and "Letyat zhuravli" is one of the most visually mesmerizing and gorgeous films you'll ever see. Too bad it's marred by a rather maudlin story and heavy-handed propaganda. But as a tone poem and a sensory experience it is indelible.
Rated 08 Apr 2014
cinemahellcinema_hell
Rated 16 Aug 2008
98
97th
The drama gets over-the-top sometimes. But this is a masterpiece, anyway.
Rated 16 Aug 2008
jpfergusonJPFerguson
Rated 21 Apr 2022
80
89th
Kalatozov and cinematographer Urusevsky expertly manipulate visual space – moving the camera in all dimensions with purposeful dynamism, positioning actors and sets to realise highly impactful depth of field - in such a way that each shot is either crammed to overflowing or barren with human energy. It’s an epic film in scope – as funny as it is dramatic or often melodramatic - but with a run time of just over 90 minutes. All of which is a testament to Kalatozov’s masterful storytelling.
Rated 21 Apr 2022
darkmandarkman
Rated 15 Apr 2010
94
99th
Wow! A masterpiece with perfect cinematography. It makes you cry.
Rated 15 Apr 2010
chengmingchengming
Rated 19 Feb 2021
90
97th
Wow. Like French New Wave done by people that actually learned the craft. Pulls off some impressive moving camera shots and some of the best crowd scenes I've seen. Kinda unbelievable that after a movie like this, celebrated in Cannes as it was, we still managed to slide deeper and deeper into the Cold War.
Rated 19 Feb 2021
kito1kito1
Rated 06 Nov 2019
60
47th
It's alright, but pretty straightforward. Could be a lot stronger with tighter editing.
Rated 06 Nov 2019
sebbysebby
Rated 11 Mar 2011
98
99th
Fuuuuuck. So good. Wrought both with emotional weight and technical bravado. The camerawork is astounding.
Rated 11 Mar 2011
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 22 Jan 2022
85
59th
Viewed January 11, 2022. The material is familiar and maybe even outright heavy-handed (the over-extended sequence in the hospital where all of the soldiers gather around to complain about women who marry another man after their boyfriends go off to war), but Kalatozov's grand, expressive direction - swooping camera movements, dazzling long takes through crowded streets, delicate lighting, slightly-too-close close-ups & tightly sketched wide shots - breathe so much life into every single moment.
Rated 22 Jan 2022
theyshoot07theyshoot07
Rated 02 Mar 2008
67
47th
# 656
Rated 02 Mar 2008
scurryscurry
Rated 24 Jan 2008
80
95th
Beautiful and stoic love story.
Rated 24 Jan 2008
reyRey
Rated 03 Jan 2015
70
21st
De fato é um filme bonito, mas sua importância principal é histórica, tendo sido o primeiro filme soviético em anos a romper com o discurso heróico do soldado e colocar a guerra como vilã, quatro anos após a morte de Stalin. Além disso, teve uso inovador da filmagem com a câmera na mão, técnica que o cinematógrofo havia desenvolvido na guerra.
Rated 03 Jan 2015
hotsakehotsake
Rated 28 Feb 2019
76
87th
The story is very basic and generic but the direction, cinematography, and visuals are amazing and quite wondrous to behold even when I was being shown something horrible and tragic. This film deserves the praise it gets.
Rated 28 Feb 2019
pratchett3Pratchett3
Rated 02 Sep 2017
4
10th
didn't do much for me, too old-fashioned
Rated 02 Sep 2017
perrystroikaPerryStroika
Rated 29 Jun 2015
71
87th
Astonishing film making. The compositions, the cinematography, the fluid camera, the way it glides effortlessly from intimate closeups into vast panoramic tracking shots. And Tatyana Samojlova is incredible. A great classic of Silver Age Soviet Cinema.
Rated 29 Jun 2015
huefluxhueflux
Rated 22 Feb 2017
100
94th
Absolutely spectacular, the music and the cinematography merge incredibly.
Rated 22 Feb 2017
theyshoot08theyshoot08
Rated 19 Dec 2008
67
34th
663
Rated 19 Dec 2008
rthornhillrthornhill
Rated 09 Jul 2016
95
93rd
Poignant and beautifully filmed....
Rated 09 Jul 2016
fellasleepfellasleep
Rated 24 May 2012
96
82nd
makes you feel like you re dancing with a super cyclonic storm
Rated 24 May 2012
larsvontrierLarsVonTrier
Rated 08 Feb 2021
3
72nd
the photography, THE PHOTOGRAPHY!!!
Rated 08 Feb 2021
madmanMadMan
Rated 15 Jul 2020
100
96th
Got me feeling misty. Some exemplary and marvelous shots mixed in with the misery and poetry of being stuck in Russia as the invading Nazis loom in WW2. The scene where Veronika runs back to the apartment through the ruins is harrowing. What a film.
Rated 15 Jul 2020
mrcarmadyMrCarmady
Rated 28 May 2011
85
58th
The cinematography compensates for any problems one might have with this. Just beautiful.
Rated 28 May 2011
radumsmnradumsmn
Rated 19 Jul 2016
83
94th
The visuals put a lot of movement into a story which is a bit static, helped a lot by the great acting. Talent & vision will always stand the test of time, and this picture still feels like a fantastic movie more than half a century later.
Rated 19 Jul 2016
francogonzoFrancoGonzo
Rated 28 Feb 2016
16
88th
Star Rating: ★★★★1/2
Rated 28 Feb 2016
picklemanPickle_Man
Rated 06 Nov 2021
100
94th
Unbelievable cinematography. The narrative is pure propagandist melodrama but good lord it's so visually compelling you can't help but buy into it.
Rated 06 Nov 2021
honestthiefHonest_Thief
Rated 03 Nov 2021
5
91st
the type of movie that words like cinematography were created for simply majestic
Rated 03 Nov 2021
jj1986JJ1986
Rated 14 Sep 2021
90
97th
Powerful.
Rated 14 Sep 2021
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 31 Jan 2013
70
42nd
Turnalar, ikinci dünya savasi, rusya, savas baslamasi, asker yolu gözlemek, askerden muaf olan kuzen, piyanist, askeri hastane, hemsire, bir baskasiyla evlenmek, sincap (oyuncak); Sevgilisi askere gönüllü yazilan kiz, ondan haber alamaz. askere gitmeyen kuzen kiza asiktir. Kuzen kiza acilir. Evlenirler. fakat kiz hala askerdeki eski sevgilisini beklemektedir. Kuzenle bosanirlar. Eski sevgilinin ölüm haberi gelir.
Rated 31 Jan 2013
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 29 Apr 2019
5
93rd
Shoehorned by the state or volunteered by its creators, this film contains plenty of rhetoric about the virtue of service and sacrifice during wartime, but in effect the prevailing feeling is the folly of such sentiment. Here is a war film about the trauma of civilian life on the homefront, and a sympathy for human welfare rather than fervent patriotism. What does the war bring any of these characters except heartache? Par for Kalatozov's course, the cinematography is overwhelmingly spectacular.
Rated 29 Apr 2019
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 07 Feb 2020
80
78th
Beautiful Russian tragedy that almost feels as big as War & Peace yet mostly keeps focus on one extended family. The cinematography is stunning (if sometimes dizzying) and complemented with the editing, weaves a simple story that has powerful ups and downs.
Rated 07 Feb 2020
kasperlKasperL
Rated 18 Jan 2008
95
99th
With 'The Cranes are Flying' Kalatozov (and his cinematographer) created a piece of cinema so stunning that few would hesistate to call it a masterpiece. Including me: Movie, you're a masterpiece.
Rated 18 Jan 2008
begoniabolbegoniabol
Rated 31 Oct 2011
95
98th
Absolutely heartbreaking, excelent directing, really good acting and the lighting is fantastic. Very good perfomances, it almost brought me to tears..
Rated 31 Oct 2011
obtiosovobtiosov
Rated 02 Sep 2014
95
97th
The movements of the camera is so awesome that I can easily believe this movie is made today. The melodrama wasn't overwhelming and thanks to lovely Tatyana Samoilova, the film usually feels realistic enough.
Rated 02 Sep 2014
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 02 Sep 2012
4
35th
Technically it's excellent: impressive directing, lighting, all that jazz. The story is weak though, which is all that ultimately matters in a movie. Veronica's character is so malleable and selfish that it's really hard to give a crap about her problems. By the end it just becomes obnoxious, hammering you to death with its obvious message. Russians really do make the worst movies, don't they?
Rated 02 Sep 2012
vauthVauth
Rated 10 Mar 2013
82
65th
A really great cinematic effort for its time with wonderful sets and some scenes were really beautifully shot and creative, complimented by a fitting score at times. Sure, the plot might be a little thin, somewhat manipulative, and Soviet propaganda is present but Veronika's character and Samojlova's portrayal of her is undoubtedly moving and human, lifting this film from being a simple Soviet propaganda film to one that strikes at the heart of something larger and beyond any political ideology
Rated 10 Mar 2013
joseywalesjoseywales
Rated 28 May 2009
91
97th
Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Joyful. Perfect.
Rated 28 May 2009
mrcimrci
Rated 25 Mar 2024
50
31st
Quite similar in style to the great I am Cuba. Unfortunately, the anti-war agenda is way too much in the viewer's face and movie feels artificial on many levels.
Rated 25 Mar 2024
oskarhuoskarhu
Rated 18 Feb 2016
83
87th
Expertly crafted story and smooth filmmaking including beautiful cinematography. Loses its shine when it comes to the plot due to lack of excitement in its trajectory.
Rated 18 Feb 2016
big_lemonsBig Lemons
Rated 11 Oct 2008
94
96th
I cried.
Rated 11 Oct 2008
gleebgleeb
Rated 27 Oct 2008
91
98th
The story is simple, and somewhat programmatic. But man, the way they tell the story.
Rated 27 Oct 2008
hadleyreisHadleyreis
Rated 24 Aug 2020
85
87th
That's love, my dear. A harmful, mental disturbance.
Rated 24 Aug 2020
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 10 Jul 2009
82
92nd
Very Nice Movie
Rated 10 Jul 2009
doyler29doyler29
Rated 17 Sep 2021
90
87th
There's nothing startlingly original here, but that's really kind of the point. Soviet film had been driven for decades by programmatic concerns. This is one of the first films to take advantage of a loosening of restrictions and tell a simple human story that reflected on the war and it's toll on society. It's an absolutely gorgeously shot film with stunning hand-held cinematography and it's a really lovely and sad melodrama.
Rated 17 Sep 2021
syntheseizurSyntheseizur
Rated 27 Sep 2012
71
31st
Exceptionally well shot. I don't think the characters are particularly well built, and the story has been done better a dozen times, but the cinematography is truly great. There is also some emotional nuance and subtlety to enjoy, but mostly I was left confused by the emptier aspects of the film.
Rated 27 Sep 2012
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 19 Oct 2007
50
38th
I can see why this is such a highly esteemed movie. It's got some mighty impressive set pieces for its time and in terms of form, it's lovingly directed to say the least. The script, however - a flimsy melodrama about romantic fidelity in wartime - underwhelmed me.
Rated 19 Oct 2007
theyshoot10theyshoot10
Rated 15 Jan 2010
72
44th
568
Rated 15 Jan 2010
stevekimesstevekimes
Rated 12 May 2012
75
30th
Great acting, but disappointing melodrama. Watch Seventh Heaven instead.
Rated 12 May 2012
skapskap
Rated 05 Mar 2018
80
57th
I keep coming back for the the exquisite black and white cinematography and production design, but am invariably underwhelmed by the second half of the film. One is expecting something big and epic, but the story turns out small, almost insufficient for a feature film. I would have loved to see the characters go through more psychological transformations. As it is, it's a rather disappointing masterpiece, but you still must watch it, if you have a slightest interest in serious cinema.
Rated 05 Mar 2018
le_mamile mami
Rated 04 Sep 2018
45
32nd
rewatch
Rated 04 Sep 2018
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 22 Jun 2022
82
79th
Normalish Soviet film elevated significantly by brilliant cinematography and a very strong central performance by Tatyana Samojlova. Several scenes are absolutely tremendous--mostly the scenes based around air raid sirens--the running up of the stairs of the destroyed building and the piano almost horror like scene come to mind.
Rated 22 Jun 2022
icarusIcarus
Rated 24 Jan 2021
87
83rd
Beautifully shot, with performances that reveal the beating hearts of people in war-torn countries. I am especially moved by the grace notes in the last third of the film, as well as some of the cinematography that works on multiple levels in the frame.
Rated 24 Jan 2021
wasnotwhynotwasnotwhynot
Rated 15 Nov 2020
70
50th
don't really like war dramas but the historical conditions here are some of the most sympathetic. phenomenal editing and performances. feels bigger like being swept up
Rated 15 Nov 2020
theyshoot11theyshoot11
Rated 30 Nov 2011
70
40th
#601
Rated 30 Nov 2011
larmorlarmor
Rated 04 Aug 2018
80
81st
So, sure, there is some tension in the choices of the main characters between love and war, or mourning and rebuilding, but if Veronica's swerve towards Mark had been explained, it would have added depth to the movie. Wonderfully shot, except for a couple odd cuts. Photography is beautiful and the cameraworks, although not at the level of Soy Cuba, are already amazing.
Rated 04 Aug 2018
lepuppy7Lepuppy7
Rated 15 Jan 2016
7
74th
Touching. Worth watching.
Rated 15 Jan 2016

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