Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

The Cranes Are Flying Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 27, 2020

Mikhail Kalatozov’s “The Cranes Are Flying” (1957) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include new video program with critic Ian Christie; archival interview with Mikhail Kalatozov; excerpt from an archival documentary on cinematographer Sergei Urusevsky; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by Chris Fujiwara and technical credits. In Russia, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A “locked”.

Is this your girl?

You cannot fully grasp how great Mikhail Kalatozov’s film The Cranes Are Flying is if you do not know how different Soviet cinema was before it. Until Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953 -- and for years after that -- Mosfilm was a propaganda apparatus that existed to meet the publicity needs of the Communist Party, which is why the films that emerged from it were essentially ‘political messengers’. Indeed, they were carefully scripted to sell very particular ideas to the masses and strengthen their confidence in the country’s leaders, and under the strict guidance of the Ministry of Culture only the best of them – meaning the most ideologically pure ones -- were allowed to enter the state-controlled theater system. The Cranes Are Flying was conceived during the post-Stalin evolutionary period and was the first big Soviet film to embrace artistic freedom as it was understood and practiced by Western filmmakers.

Moscow, a few days before the country officially enters WWII. Boris (Aleksei Batalov) and Veronika (Tatiana Samoilova) are madly in love and have big plans for the future. Their parents do not oppose their relationship, so it seems like it is only a matter of time before the two start a family of their own.

But when a local radio station breaks the news that the country has gone to war, Boris is amongst the first to enlist in the army. The largely impulsive decision leaves everyone in his family speechless and instantly breaks Veronika’s heart. After the initial shock everyone accepts Boris’ decision and following a small but poignant farewell ceremony he heads to the front. However, in the ensuing chaos Boris and Veronika miss each other and as a result both incorrectly assume that their love may not have survived a crucial test. (The misunderstanding has a central role and later on initiates a key character transformation).

In the weeks and months ahead Boris and Veronika often recall the very best moments they shared together and hope that a message from the other will reconnect them. As the war intensifies, however, the country comes on the verge of a total collapse and the two begin to realize that a reunion is unlikely.

The sincerity of the romance and drama as well as the impressive manner in which they are balanced together make it absolutely impossible for this film to function as a propaganda piece. It is true that there are sporadic exchanges with ‘patriotic’ statements that deliver the right political messages, but they are filler material that is instantly forgettable. Veronika’s sadness, remorse, and undying hope that at the end of the war Boris will return to her imbue the film with classic cinematic purity that has a universal appeal. (And this is the exact reason why the film quickly became a huge hit at various [prestigious festivals around the world).

The technical construction also reveals a very uncharacteristic for Soviet films of the era artistic vision. Indeed, the imaginative overlapping in the flashbacks and especially the elegant camera movement actually remind of the work that future European masters like Michelangelo Antonioni and Federico Fellini were beginning to emphasize in their films. Also, while it may not be immediately obvious now the film is masterfully edited as well, which is something that further strengthens its classic cinematic identity.

Though it may appear that Samoilova and Batalov are the undisputed stars, there are a lot of sizeable contributions from supporting actors that are absolutely crucial. Indeed, in different situations these supporting actors routinely initiate transformations that are reflective of important developments that tell a much bigger story about a country fighting for its survival.

*Criterion’s release of The Cranes Are Flying is sourced from a brand new 2K master that was struck from the original 35mm camera negative at Mosfilm.

The Cranes Are Flying Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Cranes Are Flying arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet that it is provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital transfer was created in 2K resolution from the 35mm original camera negative and restored by Mosfilm. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm track."

I have Criterion's DVD release of The Cranes Are Flying in my library and was able to do a few quick comparisons with the Blu-ray release for the purpose of this article. The difference in quality between the two is quite dramatic, and I don't think that you need to project or use a very large screen to tell that it is so. In addition to vastly superior delineation and depth, the new 2K master is graded with impressive precision. As a result, there are entire ranges of expanded nuances that make the new master look far more convincing. (To be perfectly clear, the better nuances are visible during darker/indoor footage as well as during daylight footage). Image stability is excellent and so is fluidity of the visuals. The entire film is spotless as well. Terrific restorations. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The Cranes Are Flying Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Russian LPCM 1.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

It is instantly obvious that the audio has been fully remastered. The sound is razor-sharp, clean, nicely rounded and stable. I also think that the dynamic intensity if very good. I did a couple of tests with the DVD release and on my system the lossless track clearly performs better. The English translation is excellent.

The Cranes Are Flying Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Ian Christie - in this new program, critic Ian Christie discusses the socio-political environment in which The Cranes are Flying emerged, the film's style and success, and the life and career of its creator, Mikhail Kalatozov. In English, not subtitled. (19 min, 1080p).

• Mikhail Kalatozov - in this archival interview, director Mikhail Kalatozov discusses his fondness of 'poetic cinema', his creative imagination and the goals he set for himself while shooting films, and some of the key qualities that defined Soviet cinema after the end of the war. The interview was conducted by critic Gideon Bachmann at the Moscow International Film Festival in July, 1961. In Russian and English, with optional English subtitles where necessary. (12 min, 1080p).

• Portrait of Sergei Urusevsky - presented here is an excerpt from an archival documentary on Sergei Urusevsky which features the cinematographer's drawings for The Cranes Are Flying, along with interviews with his daughter, Irina Urusevskaya, and actor Alexei Batalov. The documentary was produced in 2008. In Russian, with optional English subtitles. (19 min, 1080p).

• The Road to Cannes - in this archival program, Claude Lelouch recalls his first trip to Moscow in the early 1950s where he witnessed the shooting of The Cranes Are Flying, which inspired him to become a director. The program features archival footage that Lelouch was allowed to shoot in Moscow, footage from the famous stairway sequence from The Cranes Are Flying, as well as footage from the Cannes Film Festival where the film won the Palme d'Or Award. In Russian, with optional English subtitles. (5 min, 1080p).

• Hurricane Kalatozov - this documentary film takes a closer look at Mikhail Kalatozov's legacy and his relationship with the Soviet government. It was directed by Patrick Cazals in 2009. In Russian, English, Spanish, and French, with printed English subtitles. (74 min, 1080i).
  
  1. I am Cuba
  2. Childhood
  3. Salt for Svanetia/Nail in the Boot
  4. America
  5. The Cranes Are Flying
  6. Letter Never Sent
  7. The Red Tent
  

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring Chris Fujiwara's essay "A Free Camera" as well as technical credits.

The Cranes Are Flying Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is not difficult to argue that Mikhail Kalatozov's The Cranes Are Flying is one of the best post-war Soviet films. It tells a very moving, multi-layered story and its visual brilliance is on par with that of many timeless classic European films. Criterion's Blu-ray release is sourced from a fantastic new 2K master that was prepared by Mosfilm in Russia. VERY HIGHLY RECOOMENDED.