Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1980)
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Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears Movie Review
Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears is a 1980 Soviet film directed by Vladimir Menshov and starring Vera Alentova and Aleksey Batalov among others. It is a solid, but not great film.
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“How many times I’ve imagined what it would be like meeting you.
All the words I’ve carefully prepared.
Now you’re here and I don’t know what to say“
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This is one of those films that are way too epic, melodramatic and long in scope and runtime. The film follows three women in two different timelines. It follows their lives, relationships, goals and friendships. What I liked about it the most is its feminist, progressive overtones as all these women are very strong personalities and people.
The film is pretty engaging for its excessive runtime and definitely very charming in many wonderful scenes. The highlight of the entire film is the dialogue – whether in comedic scenes or romantic or dramatic ones, the film consistently delivers in terms of dialogue as it has many very fascinating or moving conversations that were lovely to follow.
Katerina, Lydmila and Antonina are all excellent characters with Katerina being the most interesting one. All these characters are very well developed and mostly very likable and charming. I loved their interactions and their stories are interesting and well realized.
Vera Alentova and Aleksey Batalov are the acting highlights which is why I highlighted them in my opening of the review, but all of the others deliver solid works as well. Vladimir Menshov’s directing is also pretty good, but rarely great.
Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears is reminiscent of French films in its tone and I do definitely agree. The movie is definitely very lighthearted and fluffy for better and for worse. It is a chick flick as many have said about it, but I wouldn’t use that term in a negative way as it is the kind of woman’s picture that is wonderful to watch for both genders.
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The film’s highlights are its technical aspects as the cinematography is lovely as the film is so well shot and great to look at with Moscow being beautifully utilized and the score – whether using adapted soundtrack or original music, the score is excellent here and accompanying the scenery and plot so well. So the film is not worthy of an Oscar, but still it is a solid, if far from important piece of light entertainment that is reminiscent to another Oscar winner ‘A Man and a Woman’.
While hardly being an important or great film as it is too epic in scope and runtime, too lightweight and melodramatic, Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears is still a solid, charming flick which features very well developed, likable characters and particularly good dialogue, cinematography and score.
