Georgiy Sochevko

Based on the story by Nikolai Gogol, an Orthodox priest on monastery holiday kills an old witch in a remote village, who turns into a beautiful young woman. Her dying wish is for him to watch over her wake for three nights in the village, with terrors occurring and his faith waning as he reads prayers on overnight watch.

An expansive Russian drama, this film focuses on the life of revered religious icon painter Andrei Rublev. Drifting from place to place in a tumultuous era, the peace-seeking monk eventually gains a reputation for his art. But after Rublev witnesses a brutal battle and unintentionally becomes involved, he takes a vow of silence and spends time away from his work. As he begins to ease his troubled soul, he takes steps towards becoming a painter once again.

1829. Tired of being secretly watched by the chief of police Benckendorff, Pushkin leaves imperial St. Petersburg and heads to the Caucasus to join the army. He stops in Tiflis, waiting for permission to enter the war zone. Pushkin gets invited to the house of one of the Georgian princes. The poet is surrounded by honor and attention. Here Pushkin becomes acquainted with the wonderful Georgian songs and poems of Shota Rustaveli.

The film’s content makes no concessions to the usual expectations of Soviet audiences of the 1930s. The cast of characters is extremely unlikely in almost every conventional respect. The action involves the household of the prominent Dr. Stepanov and his young wife, Masha, who share their large and richly adorned mansion with the parasitical Fedor Tsitronov, whose presence in the household is given only the most implausible of explanations. Equally implausible is the acquaintance of the family with the young and proud Grisha Fokin, whose leadership role in the Young Communist League is never clearly defined and who is never seen engaged in any work or professional activity.