A Cruel Romance (1984)
"Zhestokiy romans" (original title)

Director:

Eldar Ryazanov

Writers:

Aleksandr Ostrovsky (play), Eldar Ryazanov

Stars:

Alisa Freyndlikh, Larisa Guzeeva, Nikita Mikhalkov

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alisa Freyndlikh	...	Ogudalova
Larisa Guzeeva	...	Larisa
Nikita Mikhalkov	...	Paratov
Andrey Myagkov	...	Karandyshev
Aleksey Petrenko	...	Knurov
Viktor Proskurin	...	Vozhevatov
Georgiy Burkov	...	Robinzon
Tatyana Pankova	...	Efrosinya Potapovna
Borislav Brondukov	...	Ivan
Aleksandr Pyatkov	...	Gavrilo
Yuriy Sarantsev	...	Kapitan
Olga Volkova	...	Modistka
Dmitriy Buzylyov-Kretso	...	Ilya (as Dmitriy Buzylyov)
Aleksandr Pankratov-Chyornyy	...	Ofitser
Sergey Artsibashev	...	Gulyaev

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

based on play

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

Soviet Union

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

18 September 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Cruel Romance

Filming Locations:

Kostroma, Russia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mosfilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Without Dowry (1937)

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Soundtracks

"Pod laskoy plyushevogo pleda"
Written by Andrei Petrov and Marina Tsvetayeva
Performed by Valentina Ponomaryova

User Reviews

Timeless movie

This movie by Eldar Ryazanov surpassed my expectations. It really is quite an experience to see how Larissa's life unfolds; how she is coveted by men old and young, rich and poor... And yet every turn of events leaves a much bitter taste on her. It seems like if tears were a permanent mark of every Russian woman, like if, by definition, no woman would dare to call herself Russian without ever tasting the bitterness of life.

Ryazanov is quickly becoming one of my favourite directors. Though here I may be coming late, since he actually achieved fame and glory during Soviet time, a long gone era. Anyway, his "Zhestokij Romans" or "A cruel Romance" tells a tale which seems to me timeless.

Consider the plot of a very beautiful young woman, whose life ahead is full of promise.. But consider also that this girl's life is actually torn apart by events which seem (apparently) out of her immediate control, like if fate was conspiring against her at every other corner. Even her mother, willingly or not, at some point "sells" her -though like every other mother she blindly believes doing what's best for her daughter's future. Zhestokij Romans is sinonimous to drama: just watch the final scene, which is so powerful, telling and poetic...

I especially enjoyed the Gipsy scenes. All that dancing, joy and vodka were very moving in this film. Just as Yugoslav director Emir Kosturica has immortalised the Gipsy people (i.e. "Underground") we also see in "Zhestokij" droves of joyful Gipsies carrying everywhere they go that sound which is at the same time melancholic and joyous. Some other scenes reminded me of "Svadba" (Pavel Lounguine) a film which also features lots of partying and rivers of vodka despite the imminent disgrace and bitterness of life. I even found some parallels with "Luna Papa" another film from the former Soviet republics in which a young and pretty girl has to rapidly mature and leap from childhood into adulthood.

The Gipsy scenes also served as a very effective contrast between joy and doom. While they kept dancing, tragedy was occurring elsewhere. It's like they say: one man's happiness is another man's suffering.

That's why I consider this movie to be "Timeless". That's why I consider the last scene a gem of cinema, like anything I've seen before. Our lovely Larissa is embarked in that permanent quest for real love and affection.