Gotlib Roninson

Cuban Novella

The nationalization of banks in Cuba by Fidel Castro's government brought many worries to both the counterrevolutionaries who fled the country and the ordinary workers who found themselves called upon to run these institutions. Garcia, sent by the former owners of the bank to Roberto, its manager, persuades him to help him break into the bank building to steal the checks of the American-Cuban Bank. Roberto hesitates: on the one hand, the former owners have made him, once a simple accountant, the manager, but on the other hand, he cannot go against the people. He must help the worker Maximo, appointed by the revolutionary government as the bank's commissioner, to understand all the intricacies of the case. Maximo trusts him, consulting him in everything.

Ten Days That Shook the World

A folk performance in two acts with pantomime, buffoonery, and shooting, performed by the troupe of the Drama and Comedy Theater on Taganka.

It Can't Be!

The film includes three short stories based on the stories of Mikhail Zoshchenko: "Crime and Punishment", "Fun Adventure", and "Wedding Event" about the negative phenomena of the provincial life of the young country of the Soviets: stupidity, drunkenness, money-grubbing, lack of spirituality.

Say a Word for the Poor Hussar

The small town agog Hussars entry. Love between cornet and the young actress suddenly faces intrigue made by a St. Petersburg bureaucrat. The actress father dies after being involved in this game and perspectives look dark... But evil will eventually be defeated by the nobility, loyalty and love.

The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!

A group of old friends have a tradition of going to a public bathing house on New Year's Eve. Occasionally too much vodka and beer makes two of them unconscious. The problem is that one of them (Sasha) has to go to Leningrad but another one (Zhenya) goes. Zhenya wakes up at Leningrad airport. Believing that he is still in Moscow he takes a taxi and goes home. The street name, building and even apartment number, the way an apartment complex looks the same and the key coincide completely - just typical Soviet-type 'economy' architecture. Imagine the surprise of Nadya when she enters her apartment and finds a man without trousers in her bed. What's more - Nadya's fiancé also finds him there...

The Swineherd

The film is based on Andersen's fairy tale "Swineherd".

Old Men: Robbers

An old detective does not want to retire. The only way out is to prove to his boss that he still can catch criminals. The problem is that there were no crimes recently to work on. Together with his retired friend he decides to commit a perfect crime himself and then quickly solve it. Real problems start when a real criminal steals money he has stolen.

Zigzag of Success

Photo studio "Contemporary" in a provincial town lives with its everyday problems. The director is concerned over the failure to fulfill the planned targets, receptionist Alevtina wants to get married, and photographer Vladimir Oreshnikov dreams of becoming a professional photographer. But suddenly luck smiles on Oreshnikov. He takes 20 rubles form the worker's mutual aid fund, buys a government lottery bond and wins 10,000 rubles. Oreshnikov wants to receive the win himself, but his colleagues object to him, because the money that he spent on the bond were public, hence the win should be divided equally among all workers. It creates a controversial situation, which is successfully resolved on the very eve of the New Year, under the chiming clock...

Beware of the Car!

An insurance agent who moonlights as a car thief steals cars various crooks and never from the common people. He sells the stolen cars and gives the money to charity. His best friend, a cop, is assigned to bring in this modern robin hood.

The Pickwick Papers

A two-part television play based on the novel by Charles Dickens featuring songs by poet David Samoylov.

The Long Recess

A young teacher goes to a school for adults. He is younger than many of his students and some of them are starting to miss school.

The Flight

The film is about a group of people who in other times wouldn't have anything in common, some of them innocent bystanders, some moral criminals. But nothing is straightforward and simple. From Russia "the run" continues to Constantinople, to Paris, back to Russia. Some of them have understood that they can't live outside Russia and go back maybe to be happy, maybe not, some go back to face sure death for their crimes, some don't go back and know that are going to miss homeland forever, some are comfortably well off (are they?) in exile. Sentimental without syrup, tragic and comical at the same time.

Tanks Are Running on Taganka

After a serious injury, the hero loses his memory, but gains the gift of suggestion. On his walks around Moscow he is accompanied by the demon-tempter Brockhaus...

A Slave of Love

During the Russian Civil War, the production of a silent melodrama runs into numerous complications.

Admiral Ushakov

Historical epic about the legendary Russian naval commander of the 18th century, admiral Fyodor Ushakov, and his fight for Crimea during the Russo-Turkish War.

The Cure Against Fear

A police detective is trying to find a murderer who uses a new recently developed drug for his crimes.

Adam Marries Eve

A fictional court has to decide whether Adam and Eve can become spouses.

Land, Poste Restante

Based on a true story about Soviet spy Lev Manevich. He lives in Italy and operates in the Nazi Germany and Austria. Manevich, who is posing as a businessman, collects information about the latest German airplanes made by Messerschmitt for Luftwaffe. On his spying trip to Berlin, Manevich noticed that a stranger was following him. Now his life is in danger, but he must do something to complete his mission...

The Bag Of Apples

Hare carries bag of apples for 4 sonnies and lovely daughter. But along the way he gives all apples to forest dwellers leaving his children hungry.

Farewell, America!

An unfinished film by Oleksandr Dovzhenko, the film is a political lampoon based on the book entitled The Truth about US Diplomats, written in 1949 by the American writer Annabel Bukar. It exposes the underhanded actions of US Embassy personnel in Moscow at the onset of the Cold War. Dovzhenko managed to shoot only a half of the film, mainly the scenes that take place in the American Embassy.

The Suicide

As Soviet Russia enters the era of the New Economic Policy, Semyon Podsekalnikov decides to stop looking for a job. However, the prospect of living at the expense of his wife and mother-in-law seems unbearable. Having reached the end of his tether, Semyon is resolved to take his own life. Based on Nikolai Erdman's controversial play.

Mystery-Bouffe

Based on Mayakovsky's twentieth-century morality play, in which workers receive the awards of the blessed, and monarchs and capitalist politicians are consigned to eternal damnation.

Afonya

The 1975 film by Georgi Daneliya "Afonya" was an unexpected commercial hit in USSR. The main character "Afonya" Borshev is a plumber, who spends his life partying with "buddies", many of whom he doesn't even remember after nights of heavy drinking. His wife leaves him, his boss places him on probation, his whole life is falling apart, but he doesn't realize it. Afonya met Katya at a dance club, yet didn't pay her much attention. But she is the one, who can save him... In this movie Daneliya achieves a perfect balance of satire and drama. Quotes from the movie gained a cult status in USSR.

The Paradise Apples

Political pamphlet based on the story of the Finnish writer Martti Larni "Socrates in Helsinki". Spring of 1944. In the paradise, which has long been settled by the philosopher Socrates, a fired soldier Vittori Virten arrives. The philosopher respected the newcomer with great respect, and they even became friends. Once having distinguished himself before God, the heroes get a vacation on Earth and go on a journey: the soldier decides to visit his family in Laconia, and the sage just wanted to see the world — did he think it once, and decided to join the soldier...

The Secret Agent's Return

After returning from the USSR, Tulyev was subjected to rigorous verification of his former "owners". He continues his work in Western intelligence, but already as a Soviet intelligence officer through the First Main Directorate of the KGB of the USSR. In a new capacity, he establishes the whereabouts of Hitler’s criminal Hoffmann, who was once sentenced to death, and helps the authorities arrest him. However, as a result of the conflict within NATO intelligence, Charlie Brighton, Hoffman's assistant, begins to hunt for him. At the same time, Tulyev manages to establish the identity of the murderer of his father, Karl Brockmann, with whom they crossed in the service of mercenaries somewhere in hot countries. He wants revenge, but, by an evil irony of fate, he must help prepare Brockmann for being cast as a spy in the Soviet Union.

Miracles in the Sieve

A bizarre cartoon based on English nursery rhymes.

Literature Lesson

A young literature teacher does not like his job. He feels he has to change something in his life. And one day he decides to tell only the truth. This decision leads to a breakup with his fiancée, a series of misunderstandings at school.

Golden Boy

In one city lived the Black Robber, the Pink King, the Blue Lady, the Green Bear and the Golden Boy. The first four heroes think that the boy is literally golden, and dream of getting him in order to fulfill their dreams.