Hey guys, I just rewatched this film and it left me with the most amazing aftertaste and a deeper understanding of how to live life. I know it's hard to judge a book by its cover, but for me, the standout here is young Tabakov and he's absolutely phenomenal. The other roles are also top-notch, no doubt about it. This is an adaptation of Rozov's play "In Search of Happiness". The film clocks in at just over 45 minutes. Directors Georgy Natanson and Anatoly Efros.

WHAT THE FILM'S ABOUTThe action in the film takes place over the course of one day, but all the colors of that day are super intense because it's a clash of two systems of values. I could've gone down the route of talking about the political undertones and all that, but honestly, the dialogue is so sharp and meaningful that it doesn't even matter.

The plot is pretty straightforward. We've got a family with a mom, three sons, and a daughter. The eldest son's living with his wife, who's constantly buying stuff for their future apartment. It sounds pretty bland, but trust me, this is a top-notch Soviet film. All the actors bring their A-game, and it's packed with intense scenes, dialogue, and everyday conversations – there's a lot that happens in that one day.

THE CHARACTERS

I'd say everyone who's in the movie is a main character. Oleg Tabakov plays Oleg Savin, the younger brother, a high school student who's into writing poetry and isn't exactly a fan of science. He's got a thing for two girls at the same time, and he's not afraid to speak his mind when it comes to standing up for himself or others.

He's chatting with his cousin Genka, who's in love with his sister Tatyana. As they talk, you get a sense of his take on everyday things, like relationships between people.

At one point, he kicks both girls out when one of them tries to shame him for a personal poem he wrote.

Oleg's really annoyed by his older brother's wife, Liliya Tolmacheva, who's played by Liliya Tolmacheva. She's the kind of person who's always accumulating stuff, and it's not easy to play a role like that. I mean, it's not like she's just some boring, materialistic person, but she's got a lot of depth to her.

She's also super cunning and knows how to get what she wants, but as soon as you cross her, her true nature comes out.

His older brother, Fedor, played by Genadiy Pechnikov, is a total pushover. He used to be a promising scientist, but he ended up selling out and just making money. Now, that's just the way things are, but it's still a pretty sad story. He's trying to balance his spirituality with his materialism, but it's not working out for him.

Yeah, it's clear that Fedor's head over heels for his wife Lenochka, but it's only a matter of time before the romance wears off and he realizes that his perfect match is actually a pretty empty-headed girl who's more interested in buying the latest furniture than anything else. It's interesting that the rest of the family isn't fooled by her facade - they see right through her and feel sorry for Fedor.

The middle brother, Nikolai, is smitten with Marina, but the film doesn't give him much screen time. Vladimir Zemlyanikan's role is pretty underwhelming, in my opinion - I much prefer Tatyana's storyline.

Nothing much seems to happen with Tatyana, but two guys are head over heels for her, which automatically draws attention to her. But it's not just that - she's also a strong advocate against materialism. Tatyana Nadezhina did a great job playing Tani, but I caught myself thinking that I've seen her somewhere before. She reminded me of Tatyana Samoilova, but this Tatyana has more character.

I loved how she told Lenochka, "You'll never buy everything because you're a PROVERRA!" Her dialogue with Leonid, the successful suitor who shares Lenochka's views, is full of subtle mockery and a desire to share his opinions. Tatyana also teases Gena, her other admirer, at first, but warms up to him after he confesses his feelings.

Lev Kryukov, who played the role of Gennady, totally nailed it. He's got some serious heat going on, and he's not far behind Tabakov. Watching him navigate the family dynamics, where respect and humanity are key, is like a masterclass. Gennady's got a clear sense of what's right, and it shows in his actions.

Valentina Sperantova as Klyavdia Vasilyevna is a total rockstar. She's got this amazing ability to raise her four kids in the right way, teaching them to distinguish between good and bad. That's no easy feat, let me tell you. It takes a ton of spiritual and physical energy to do it right.

She's not trying to diss her daughter-in-law, despite what the latter might think. Klyavdia Vasilyevna is just trying to get Gennady to see things from a different perspective, using examples to drive the point home.

And honestly, the dialogue in this movie is top-notch. It's the backbone of the whole thing, and it's what makes the characters so relatable.

Lena, Klyavdia Vasilyevna, Oleg, and Tanya:

-I mean, what's the point of getting worked up over a kid like that...

-When you've got your own kids, you'll know how tough it is to raise them...

-Yeah, we're not exactly bursting with joy right now. We want to enjoy life while we can.

-Actually, it's a big deal, Lena!

-I mean, there are other things in life that bring us joy, right?

--Like buying junk, for instance...

-Talk about speaking like a baby...

Another real-life 'hero' is Gena's dad, Ivan Nikitich, played by Evgeny Perov. He's this subhuman who raises his hand to both his son and his wife, and isn't above taking whatever he can get. At the same time, he's telling young people about his working-class background. Yeah, he didn't get an education, but he supposedly fought in the war. But honestly, his views aren't that different from Lenochnikov's. Gena still loves his dad, but he understands how wrong he is, and that sometimes you have to go against his authority to do the right thing.

The main idea of the movie is summed up, I think, by the character played by Valentina Sperantova. She tells her daughter-in-law, 'A person can sell themselves something valuable that they'll never be able to buy back - integrity, kindness...'.