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When the Trees Were Tall

Original title: Kogda derevya byli bolshimi
1961 · 1 h 35 min
Directed by Lev Kulidzhanov · Russia / USSR · Soviet Poetic Cinema · Soviet Thaw
DramaRomance

Cast

Inna Gulaya Yuriy Nikulin Leonid Kuravlyov Yekaterina Mazurova Vasiliy Shukshin Lyudmila Chursina

Credits

Written by: Nikolai Figurovsky

Plot

The story of a man who routinely dodges all responsibility, bemoans fate, spends his days boozing, and refuses to work. The act of playing long-lost father to a pretty teenager spurs him to turn over a new leaf.

Sinekatalog’s take

A tender Soviet drama about a drifter who is shaken out of his idleness by a young girl's trust. It is humane and quietly funny, with a redemption arc that feels earned, ideal for anyone who likes gentle stories about second chances.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.

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Ratings

IMDb: 7.6 / 10 (899 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.

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