The Cranes Are Flying (1957)

Director: Mikhail Kalatozov

Writer: Viktor Rozov

Stars: Tatyana Samoylova, Aleksey Batalov, Vasiliy Merkurev

Runtime: 97 mins

PLOT: A girl plans to meet with her lover Boris, at the bank of river, who is shortly drafted into World War 2 thereafter.

REVIEW: The story of a couple parted due to war is impeccably portrayed through the simplicity in the characters' nature. The boy, who is a patriot, willingly marches off to fend his country and the girl, a beautiful maiden is left behind to tend her hospital job. 

To tell the story of a sensitive Moscow girl who gets weakened and cheats on her lover who is at the gates of war, a highly intimate, inexplicit style of narration is used.  Mikhail Kalatozov's direction coupled with outstanding performance by Tatyana Samoilova provides the film a remarkable feeling of compassion that knows no bounds. The lady is a simple young woman separated from her lover due to the ongoing war. The lover, played by Alexei Batalov is a trustworthy young man who is moved by romantic impulse urges and shattered by his fate outside. 

Rest of the cast performed well in the film as well, especially Vasily Merkuryev as the soldier's father, Alla Bogdanova as the grandmother and Alexander Shvorin as the pianist. 

A moving drama carrying the message of love includes powerful music in it, providing more than enough to make it a complete package.

Source: Internet