Watch Dear Comrades!

Dear Comrades! is a 2020 film directed by Russian filmmaker Andrei Konchalovsky. Set in the Soviet Union in 1962, the movie tells the story of a tragic event that took place in the small town of Novocherkassk, located in the southwestern part of the country. Yuliya Vysotskaya stars as Lyuda, a loyal Communist Party member and factory worker, who lives in Novocherkassk with her teenage daughter Svetka (played by Yulia Burova). With the 22nd Communist Party Congress just around the corner, Lyuda is determined to lead the workers’ brigade at her factory, and help the Soviet economy thrive.

However, things start to take an unexpected turn when the workers in the factory go on strike, protesting against the sudden increase in food prices. Lyuda is initially confused and frustrated by the workers’ actions, but her anger turns to fear when the KGB arrives in town, and begins to arrest and torture people indiscriminately.

As Lyuda’s world begins to crumble around her, she discovers that her own daughter has joined the protest and is missing, presumably arrested by the KGB. Determined to find Svetka, and make amends for her own past mistakes, Lyuda embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth about what has really happened in Novocherkassk.

Dear Comrades! is a powerful and deeply emotional film that sheds light on a little-known and tragic event in Soviet history. Konchalovsky expertly weaves together historical fact and fictional storytelling to create a compelling and immersive narrative.

The film is beautifully shot in black and white, which adds to the sense of realism and historical authenticity. The performances are also outstanding, particularly that of Vysotskaya, who delivers an incredibly nuanced and heartfelt portrayal of Lyuda.

At its heart, Dear Comrades! is a story about the complex and often conflicting loyalties that exist in any society, particularly in a totalitarian state. Lyuda is torn between her deep love for her daughter, her loyalty to the Communist Party, and her own sense of morality and justice.

The film also touches on broader themes such as the failures of communism, the dangers of state propaganda, and the importance of individual freedoms and rights. It’s a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise when people blindly follow a flawed ideology, and the importance of speaking out against injustice.

Overall, Dear Comrades! is an important and thought-provoking film that deserves to be seen and discussed by a wider audience. It is a testament to the power of cinema to bring historical events to life in a way that is both informative and deeply moving.

Dear Comrades! is a 2020 history movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 1 minute. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 82.