The Cranes Are Flying
Летят журавли
“The compelling story of a girl's impassioned search for happiness.”
Synopsis
Veronika and Boris come together in Moscow shortly before World War II. Walking along the river, they watch cranes fly overhead, and promise to rendezvous before Boris leaves to fight. Boris misses the meeting and is off to the front lines, while Veronika waits patiently, sending letters faithfully. After her house is bombed, Veronika moves in with Boris' family, into the company of a cousin with his own intentions.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Film Trailer: Letyat zhuravli / The Cranes Are Flying
Type: Clip • Published 2018-06-24
Top Cast
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Tatyana Samoylova
Veronika
Aleksey Batalov
Boris
Vasili Merkuryev
Fyodor Ivanovich
Aleksandr Shvorin
Mark
Svetlana Kharitonova
Irina
Konstantin Kadochnikov
Volodya
Valentin Zubkov
Stepan
Antonina Bogdanova
Grandmother
Boris Kokovkin
Chernov
Ekaterina Kupriyanova
Anna Mikhaylovna
Valentina Ananina
Lyuba
Valentina Vladimirova
Woman Soldier
Olga Dzisko
Dasha
Leonid Knyazev
Sachkov
Georgiy Kulikov
Anatoliy Aleksandrovich Kuzmin
Daniil Netrebin
Wounded Man
Aleksandr Popov
Borya
Irina Preis
Antonina Nikolayevna Monastyrskaya
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 1, 2019
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Mikhail Kalatozov
- Screenplay & Story
- Viktor Rozov
- Original Score
- Mieczysław Weinberg
- Original Title
- Летят журавли
- Country of Origin
- Soviet Union
- Spoken Languages
- Russian
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Production Studios
- Mosfilm
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Mikhail Kalatozov
Viktor Rozov, Vadim Korostylyov
Mieczysław Weinberg
Sergei Urusevsky
Mariya Timofeyeva
Igor Vakar
Department Leadership Roster
Mikhail Kalatozov
Director
Sergei Urusevsky
Director of Photography
Mieczysław Weinberg
Original Music Composer
Mariya Timofeyeva
Editor
Lidiya Naumova
Costume Design
Yevgeni Svidetelev
Production Design
Viktor Rozov
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Cranes Are Flying.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Cranes Are Flying.
European Cinema
Auto-generated by festival-lists — do not edit by hand.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Cranes Are Flying
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Cranes Are Flying about?
Veronika and Boris come together in Moscow shortly before World War II. Walking along the river, they watch cranes fly overhead, and promise to rendezvous before Boris leaves to fight. Boris misses the meeting and is off to the front lines, while Veronika waits patiently, sending letters faithfully. After her house is bombed, Veronika moves in with Boris' family, into the company of a cousin with his own intentions.
Who directed The Cranes Are Flying?
The Cranes Are Flying was directed by Mikhail Kalatozov.
Who stars in The Cranes Are Flying?
The principal cast of The Cranes Are Flying includes Tatyana Samoylova, Aleksey Batalov, Vasili Merkuryev, Aleksandr Shvorin, Svetlana Kharitonova.
When was The Cranes Are Flying released and how long is it?
The Cranes Are Flying was released in 1957 with a total runtime of 1h 37m.
Who composed the musical score for The Cranes Are Flying?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Cranes Are Flying was composed by Mieczysław Weinberg.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Cranes Are Flying?
The Cranes Are Flying holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.).