One of the most popular Soviet films of the 60th, "Devchata" is a perfect example of how to make a wonderful movie in the most difficult genre of comedy/romance. "Devchata" is funny, heartwarming, charmingly naive yet involving and moving. I saw it first when I was 5 or 6 and my grandma used to take me with her to the movies few times a week. I've seen it no less than 20 times, perhaps and I still love it. Nadezda Rumiantseva gives a star making performance as a teenager Tosya who came to work as a cook in a logging company located in the distant Siberain village with the long and snowy winter. On her first day, she meets Ilya (Nikolai Rybnikov), the most popular and attractive guy who is equally known for his success on the working place and with the girls. Ilya makes the bet with the friends that the new cook will fall in love with him in no later than two weeks. Young Tosya, naive, spontaneous, with the huge wide open eyes, absolutely inexperienced in the game of flirting and seduction will teach "the first guy in town" a lesson or two on how to treat the girl and very soon he finds himself desperately in love with her. Along with the main story, there are several sub-plots concerning Tosya's friends and roommates. The film is called "The Girls", remember? "Devcahta" is short, only 92 minutes but its characters are well written and acted and the jokes are funny. The nice melodious songs by Aleksandra Pachmutova add to the atmosphere of youth, hope, friendship, and readiness for love that radiate from the screen.
Review of The Girls
The Girls
(1962)
One of the most popular Soviet comedies of the 60th is still wonderful
22 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers