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Ballad of a Soldier

1959 · Movie · 89 min · ★ 8.0 · 88% critics

DramaRomanceWar

In World War II, a young soldier earns a brief leave and sets off across a war-torn country to reach home and help his family. His compassion keeps pulling him into strangers’ troubles, turning a simple trip into a moving journey through hardship, fleeting connection, and the struggle to hold onto hope.

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Details
Original title
Баллада о солдате
Years
1959
Release date
1959-12-01
Language
Russian
Runtime
89 min
Critic score
88/100
TMDB rating
8.0/10 (218 votes)
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a tender, character-focused WWII story about ordinary people and small acts of kindness, closer in spirit to The Cranes Are Flying than a combat-heavy war epic; Not for you if you want nonstop action or a purely upbeat mood.

Pros: deeply human, heartfelt romance; vivid wartime hardships; emotional, hopeful tone | Cons: slow, reflective pacing; limited battle action; occasionally sentimental

Themes

  • world war ii
  • russian soldier
  • soldier
  • soldier on leave
  • return home
  • reflective
  • soldiers of the russian empire
  • blaze of glory

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · 1962 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Grigoriy Chukhray