Rent The Cranes Are Flying on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Viktor Rozov
Directed by: Mikhail Kalatozov
Starring: Tatyana Samojlova, Aleksey Batalov, Vasili Merkuryev, Aleksandr Shvorin
Rated: NR [PG-13]
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Plot
In this Russian language film, Veronika's husband is sent to the front during World War II and is killed in action. She resigns herself to marrying his brother, whom she does not love.
Verdict
This embodies the war in a relationship. It's the war that tears Veronica and Boris apart. Her future is immediately upturned, and she experiences nothing but trauma. Even her marriage to Boris's cousin is borne of fear. Despite that she holds hope that Boris will return and her old life can be realized. Veronica and the country yearn for the same thing. The war was devastating for Russia, obliterating the population, cities, villages, and wealth.
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Review
Set in Russia, Boris (Aleksey Batalov) and Veronica (Tatyana Samojlova) are two kids in love on the brink of World War II. He's sure he'll get exempted from the draft, but she has doubts. Eventually he volunteers out of patriotism, though he doesn't tell her. She tries to catch him before he marches off, but he leaves without seeing her. Veronica loses her boyfriend and then her family in an air raid bombing soon after.
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| Aleksey Batalov, Tatyana Samojlova play Boris, Veronika |
This is bleak; a tale that transcends language, country, and culture as it focuses on love, war, and loss. Veronica and Boris are both trying to survive the war, he on the front and she at home. She moves in with Boris's family with nowhere else to go. There his cousin Mark makes passes at her. She rejects him, but he eventually assaults her. She marries him, but that's out of fear more than anything. She has no other options. The family feels she has betrayed Boris, but they don't know what she's experienced. The marriage is a concession to prevent more attacks, but Mark ends up being a terrible husband that has no respect for her.
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| Tatyana Samojlova, Aleksandr Shvorin play Veronika, Mark |
What's the right thing in war? When do you speak up or remain quiet? Boris is assigned a dangerous mission at the front for arguing with a squad mate. He felt he was doing the right thing, but it had a cost. Meanwhile Veronica works at a hospital. It may be self imposed service to make up for what she perceives are her shortcomings. She feels immense guilt when a soldier gets a letter from an unfaithful girlfriend. It's not the same as her situation, but she's aware of how it looks and what the family thinks. In a moment of justice, the family finds out about Mark and rejects him. Not only did he take advantage of Veronica, he bribed his way out of serving in the war.
She continues to hope that Boris is alive. She has to have something to hold onto. It's a devastating story that mirrors what the country faced. Hope ebbs away, and there's nothing to be done. Life has been upturned, and there's no way to come back from that.
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