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Time, Forward! is a Soviet film directed by Larisa Shepitko and produced by Mosfilm in 1965. It tells the story of a young woman named Valentina who lives in a small and isolated fishing village in the Soviet Union during Stalin's rule. The film is divided into two parts, the first one set in 1947 and the second one in 1962, and it explores the social and political changes that occur in the country during this time period.

In the first part of the film, Valentina is a teenager who lives with her family in a small cabin near the sea. Her father is a fisherman and her mother takes care of the household, while her younger brother Iva is still in school. Valentina dreams of leaving the village and pursuing a career in law, but her parents are skeptical of her aspirations, believing that she should marry and have children instead.

One day, a group of men arrive in the village and start building a fish processing plant. Valentina is initially enthralled by the prospect of new jobs and economic prosperity, but soon realizes that the plant is being built on the ruins of an ancient graveyard. She tries to stop the construction, but is silenced by the local authorities and ostracized by her community. As a result, Valentina becomes increasingly disillusioned with Stalinist ideology and joins a group of political dissidents who are plotting a rebellion against the regime.

In the second part of the film, set in 1962, Valentina has become a successful lawyer and is now living in the city. She is married to a man named Viktor and has a young daughter, Yana. However, she is haunted by her past and the memories of her childhood village. She is contacted by a man named Mikhail, who used to be part of the rebellion and is now on the run from the authorities. Mikhail tells Valentina that Iva, her brother, was executed during the rebellion, and that their parents died shortly afterwards. Valentina is devastated by the news and decides to visit her old village to find out more about what happened.

When Valentina arrives in the village, she is greeted with hostility and suspicion by the villagers, who still remember her as a troublemaker. She discovers that the fish processing plant was never completed, and that the village has fallen into poverty and decay. She also finds out that Mikhail has been captured and that he is being held in a nearby prison. Valentina decides to visit Mikhail and to help him escape, but her actions have dire consequences.

Time, Forward! is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores the themes of identity, memory, and social justice. It is remarkable for its bold criticism of Stalinist propaganda and its nuanced portrayal of the emotional and psychological toll of living under oppressive regimes. The film is also notable for its use of naturalistic settings and its depiction of the harsh living conditions and stark beauty of the Russian landscape. The performances of the lead actresses, Inna Gulaya and Tamara Syomina, are particularly moving, as they both capture the resilience and vulnerability of women who are struggling to find their place in a changing world.

Overall, Time, Forward! is a cinematic masterpiece that deftly blends political satire, social realism, and lyrical poetry. It is a poignant reminder of the dangers of totalitarianism and the necessity of individual resistance and solidarity.