The Cranes Are Flying [Blu Ray] [The Criterion Collection] [Arrives in 30 Days]

The Cranes Are Flying

Directed by: Mikhail Kalatozov

Starring: Tatyana Samojlova, Aleksey Batalov, Vasili Merkuryev, Aleksandr Shvorin, Svetlana Kharitonova

Description

The Cranes Are Flying (1957) is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful Soviet classic directed by Mikhail Kalatozov. This wartime romantic tragedy follows the heartbreaking story of Veronika (Tatyana Samojlova) and Boris (Aleksey Batalov), a young Moscow couple whose love is torn apart when Boris volunteers for military service during World War II. Left behind, Veronika endures the hardships of war, including a tragic assault by Boris’s cousin, Fyodor, which leads her to a loveless marriage. As she struggles with loss and fate, the film paints a poignant picture of love, war, and resilience.

Renowned for its breathtaking cinematography by Sergey Urusevsky and its deeply human storytelling, The Cranes Are Flying remains one of the most celebrated films in world cinema. It won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival.

Key Features

• Format: Blu-ray / Restored
• Studio: Criterion Collection
• Catalogue No: CC3125BDUK
• Barcode: 5050629543032
• Main Language: Russian
• Subtitles: English
• Region: B
• Release Date: 13 Apr 2020
• Originally Issued: 1957
• No of Discs: 1
• Weight: 96g
• Dimensions: 136 x 17 x 171 mm
• Genre: World Cinema
• BBFC Certification: (12) Suitable for 12 years and over
• Rental/Retail: Retail not for Rental

Special Features

• Interactive Menus
• New interview with scholar Ian Christie
• Audio interview from 1961 with director Mikhail Kalatozov
• Interview from 2001 with filmmaker Claude Lelouch on the film's French premiere at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival
• Documentary: Hurricane Kalatozov (2009)