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.
"The compelling story of a girl's impassioned search for happiness."
Top Billed Cast
Tatyana Samoylova
Veronika
Aleksey Batalov
Boris
Vasili Merkuryev
Fyodor Ivanovich
Aleksandr Shvorin
Mark
Svetlana Kharitonova
Irina
Konstantin Kadochnikov
Volodya
Valentin Zubkov
Stepan
Antonina Bogdanova
Grandmother
Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews
T talisencrwVerified TMDB Critic
2016-05-11
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 the soldiers-in-arms themselves......
B badelfVerified TMDB Critic
2023-05-14
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....
C CinemaSerfVerified TMDB Critic
2024-12-14
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, with the bombs flying and the tongues wagging, confusion and misunderstandings set in that cause no end of strife for this young woman struggling to deal with the increasing conflict...
