# Ballad of a Soldier

> 1959 film by Grigori Chukhrai

**Wikidata**: [Q1305092](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1305092)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad_of_a_Soldier)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ballad-of-a-soldier

## Summary
Ballad of a Soldier is a 1959 Soviet war drama film directed by Grigori Chukhrai. The film follows a young soldier granted a brief leave to visit his mother, during which he experiences love and the harsh realities of war-torn Russia.

## Key Facts
- Release date: December 1, 1959 (Soviet Union), May 7, 1960 (international)
- Director: Grigori Chukhrai
- Production company: Mosfilm
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Genre: War film, drama film, romance film
- IMDb rating: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 93%
- Runtime: 88 minutes
- Box office: 553,466 admissions
- Wikidata ID: Q16434
- Wikipedia title: Ballad of a Soldier
- Sitelink count: 38 language editions

## FAQs
**What is Ballad of a Soldier about?**
Ballad of a Soldier tells the story of Alyosha Skvortsov, a young Soviet soldier who earns a short leave to visit his mother after performing a heroic act during World War II. During his journey home, he encounters Shura, a young woman, and they fall in love while facing the challenges of traveling through war-ravaged Russia.

**Who directed Ballad of a Soldier?**
The film was directed by Grigori Chukhrai, a prominent Soviet filmmaker who co-wrote the screenplay with Valentin Yezhov. Chukhrai was known for his poetic approach to war themes and human relationships.

**What genre is Ballad of a Soldier?**
Ballad of a Soldier is classified as a war film, drama film, and romance film. It combines elements of wartime storytelling with romantic themes and dramatic character development.

**When and where was Ballad of a Soldier released?**
The film premiered in the Soviet Union on December 1, 1959, and had its international release on May 7, 1960. It was produced by Mosfilm, the state-owned film studio in Moscow.

**What is the runtime and reception of Ballad of a Soldier?**
The film has a runtime of 88 minutes and received critical acclaim, earning an 8.5/10 rating on IMDb and a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It was a commercial success with 553,466 admissions in the Soviet Union.

## Why It Matters
Ballad of a Soldier is considered one of the greatest Soviet films ever made and a masterpiece of world cinema. The film transcends typical war movie conventions by focusing on human emotions, love, and the personal costs of conflict rather than battlefield action. Its poetic storytelling, combined with Grigori Chukhrai's sensitive direction, created a deeply moving narrative that resonated with audiences both in the Soviet Union and internationally. The film's success helped establish Soviet cinema's reputation for artistic excellence during the post-Stalin "Thaw" period, when filmmakers could explore more nuanced and humanistic themes. Its influence extends beyond its immediate historical context, as it continues to be studied and celebrated for its universal themes of love, sacrifice, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.

## Notable For
- Considered one of the greatest Soviet films in cinema history
- Won the BAFTA Award for Best Film from any Source in 1961
- Received the Lenin Prize, one of the highest honors in the Soviet Union
- Featured at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival
- Known for its poetic and humanistic approach to war themes
- Helped establish Grigori Chukhrai as a major international director
- Remains a staple in film studies curricula worldwide
- Successfully balanced state-approved patriotic themes with universal human emotions

## Body
### Production and Creative Team
Ballad of a Soldier was produced by Mosfilm, the largest and most prominent film studio in the Soviet Union, headquartered in Moscow. The film was directed by Grigori Chukhrai, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Valentin Yezhov. Chukhrai was a significant figure in Soviet cinema, known for his ability to blend poetic storytelling with realistic depictions of Soviet life and war experiences.

### Plot and Themes
The narrative follows Alyosha Skvortsov, a young soldier who is granted a six-day leave to visit his mother after destroying two German tanks. His journey home becomes a series of encounters that reveal the human cost of war and the possibility of love amidst devastation. The film explores themes of youth, love, sacrifice, and the contrast between the idealism of young soldiers and the harsh realities of wartime Russia.

### Critical Reception and Awards
Upon its release, Ballad of a Soldier received widespread critical acclaim both domestically and internationally. The film won the BAFTA Award for Best Film from any Source in 1961, making it one of the few non-Western films to receive this honor. It also received the Lenin Prize, one of the highest awards in the Soviet Union, recognizing its artistic and cultural significance. The film was featured at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival, further cementing its international reputation.

### Cultural Impact and Legacy
The film is regarded as a masterpiece of Soviet cinema and continues to be studied in film schools worldwide. Its success during the Khrushchev Thaw period demonstrated that Soviet filmmakers could create works that appealed to both state authorities and international audiences. The film's poetic approach to war themes influenced subsequent generations of filmmakers and established a template for humanistic war storytelling that transcends national boundaries.

### Technical Specifications
The film has a runtime of 88 minutes, making it a concise yet powerful narrative experience. It was shot in black and white, which was typical for Soviet cinema of that era and contributed to its timeless, documentary-like quality. The cinematography and direction emphasized the contrast between the beauty of human connection and the devastation of war-torn landscapes.

### Distribution and Availability
Ballad of a Soldier has been preserved and distributed through various channels, maintaining its accessibility to modern audiences. The film is available on major streaming platforms and has been released on DVD and Blu-ray with restored versions. Its continued presence in film festivals and retrospectives demonstrates its enduring relevance and appeal.

### Related Works and Context
As a Soviet war film from the late 1950s, Ballad of a Soldier belongs to a specific historical and cultural moment in Soviet cinema. It followed the more restrictive Stalinist period and preceded the more experimental films of the 1960s and 1970s. The film shares thematic concerns with other Soviet war films of the era but distinguishes itself through its focus on personal rather than collective heroism.

### Classification and Genre
The film is classified under multiple genres: war film, drama film, and romance film. This multi-genre classification reflects its complex narrative structure that combines elements of wartime storytelling with romantic and dramatic character development. The film's ability to blend these genres contributed to its broad appeal and critical success.

### Historical Context
Released in 1959, the film came during a period of relative liberalization in Soviet cultural policy following Stalin's death. This allowed filmmakers like Chukhrai to explore more nuanced and humanistic themes while still maintaining state-approved patriotic elements. The film's success demonstrated the potential for Soviet cinema to achieve both artistic excellence and popular appeal during this transitional period.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052600/)
2. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=130.html?nopub=1)
3. Ballad of a Soldier. Rotten Tomatoes
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
6. Online-Filmdatenbank
7. mymovies.it
8. The Movie Database
9. Bechdel Test Movie List
10. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/115685)
11. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/95338)
12. Trakt.tv
13. FilmVandaag.nl