By the Bluest of Seas
| By the Bluest of Seas | |
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DVD cover
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| У самого синего моря | |
| Directed by |
Boris Barnet S. Mardanov (co-director) |
| Written by | Klimentiy Mints |
| Starring |
Yelena Kuzmina Nikolai Kryuchkov |
| Music by | Sergei Pototsky |
| Cinematography | Mikhail Kirillov |
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Release date
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Running time
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72 minutes |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Language | Russian |
By the Bluest of Seas (Russian: У самого синего моря, translit. U samogo sinego morya) is a 1936 Soviet romantic comedy film by Russian director Boris Barnet. It is his second sound feature. Starring Yelena Kuzmina, Nikolai Kryuchkov, and Lev Sverdlin, the story centers on a love triangle between two castaways and a woman from a collective farm on a Soviet Azerbaijani island in the Caspian Sea.
Modern critical reviews have hailed By the Bluest of Seas as a little known classic of Soviet cinema. Although some critics have noted that the story and characters are thinly written, high praise has been directed toward Barnet's direction and cinematography, his innovative use of sound, and the film's footage of the Caspian Sea. Some have perceived pro-communist propaganda within the film. However, many consider the film to be less politically overt than was common in Soviet cinema of the time. This, along with the film's divergence from the era's defining style of Socialist realism, has led many to view the film as unique. It has been reported that Barnet found himself in trouble with Joseph Stalin for these reasons.
The film has long been elusive to Western audiences. It was never released on any home media format, until 2012, at which point it was made available by the Russian publisher Ruscico and the UK publisher Mr. Bongo Films.
Stranded by a storm in the Caspian Sea, sailor Yussuf and mechanic Alyosha cling to the remains of their ship for survival. On their third day adrift, the castaways are rescued by fishermen. Taken to a nearby island off the coast of Soviet Azerbaijan, Yussuf and Alyosha are welcomed into the local Lights of Communism collective farm. The two men are quickly smitten by a local woman named Mariya. As Alyosha explores the island, he separates from his friend, and happens across Mariya alone. Introducing themselves, each is in for a surprise. Mariya is, in fact, a leader of the collective. She is delighted to learn of Alyosha's profession, as all of the island's mechanics have left in service to the Pacific Fleet. In their absence, Mariya had feared that the collective's fishing operations would have been impeded. Alyosha promises to stay for the entire season, and going off to inspect a motor boat together, the two engage in flirtatious behavior. However, Yussuf soon joins up with the pair and grows jealous.
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