The Cranes Are Flying

Boris and Veronica have a nice romantic relationship developing…until Boris volunteers to fight for Stalin when the Germans invade in 1941. After a year passes with no word, Veronica, who assumes the worst, reluctantly agrees to marry his cousin, although she still hasn't given up hope that Boris will someday return. While the plot of Mikhail Kalatozishvili's film is simple, the production itself is technically impressive, especially for a 1957 postwar Soviet film. With deep-focus black-and-white cinematography incorporating a panoply of handheld tracking shots, dramatically angled close-ups, and other expressive techniques that serve the story rather than merely call attention to themselves, The Cranes Are Flying is a bold stylistic achievement. Although there are no extra features, the DVD transfer is wonderful, especially considering the film's age. Highly recommended. (T. Rich)