Afonya (1975)

The 1975 film by Georgi Daneliya "Afonya" was an unexpected commercial hit in USSR. The main character Borshev A.N. is a locksmith who spends his free time, as well as working hours, ... See full summary »

Director:

Georgiy Daneliya

Writer:

Aleksandr Borodyanskiy

Stars:

Leonid Kuravlyov, Yevgeniya Simonova, Evgeniy Leonov

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leonid Kuravlyov	...	Afanasy Nickolaevich Borshchov - Afonya
Yevgeniya Simonova	...	Katya Snigireva
Evgeniy Leonov	...	Kolya-plasterer
Saveli Kramarov	...	Yegoza - Afonya childhood friend
Nina Maslova	...	Yelena Orlova - The Beauty with a Small Dog
Borislav Brondukov	...	Fedul - Afonya's boon companion
Valentina Talyzina	...	Lydmila Ivanovna Vostryakova - Afonya's Manager
Vladimir Basov	...	Vladimir Ivanovich Belikov - Drowsy Speech Maker
Nikolai Parfyonov	...	Boris Petrovich Fomin - the trade union officer
Gotlib Roninson	...	The dull mode astronomer
T. Rasputina	...	Lyudmila - A Big-Bosom Dancer
Raisa Kurkina	...	Aunt Frosya - Afonya's Aunt
Nina Ruslanova	...	Tamara - Afonya's Ex-Girl Friend
Tatyana Teterina	...	Leshchova - a phone operator
Nikolai Grabbe	...	Vladimir Nickolaevich - The Office Executive

Storyline

The 1975 film by Georgi Daneliya "Afonya" was an unexpected commercial hit in USSR. The main character Borshev A.N. is a locksmith who spends his free time, as well as working hours, drinking with his buddies whom he even doesn't recognize the next day after another heavy drink. His wife leaves him, his boss places him on probation, his whole life is falling a part but he doesn't realize it. There is only one person who can save him - nurse Katya whom he met on dances and didn't pay much attention to... Daneliya manages to balance in the film satire and drama, quotes from the film gained a cult status in Russia and other former countries of USSR.

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Taglines:

Plokhoi Horoshi Chelovek (Bad Good Man )

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

13 October 1975 (Soviet Union)

Also Known As:

Áfonya, a vagány

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mosfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Sovcolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

For the disco club scene two real Russian bands were invited to play, "Arax" and "Mashina Vremeny" both extremely popular back then. Information sneaked away to the public and set was overcrowded by both bands fans to listen for their music and eventually provide mass dancing background free of charge for the film makers, completely unexpected.

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Quotes

Fedul, Afonya's creditor: Afonya! Hey, friend call Afonya!
[talking to Afonya's guest]
Afonya's guest: He is not in.
Fedul, Afonya's creditor: Where is he?
Fedul's pal: He left.
Fedul, Afonya's creditor: How?
Afonya's guest: He left to collect potatoes.
Fedul, Afonya's creditor: Oh! I don't like such people
[talking to his friend]
Fedul's pal: Who is this?
[...]

User Reviews

Simple... Simply Great.

As well as being a great movie as a form of art. This film should also be shown at schools when learning history of the USSR. In this film all the shabbiness and all the good sides of living in that, lost already country, are shown.

Though the story looks a bit simple and uninteresting, if you watch it you will understand you were wrong. It is a tragical comedy, it is even a drama. The first part of the movie makes you laugh, the second half - to cry. The story of Borshev A.N. is so common, so tragical and so typical at the same time.

This is one of my favourite Russian films.

This is one of my favourite films.