The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed (1979)

Soviet Classics - this mini-series was made in 1979 and since that year it remains the classic and one of the all-time-favorite-films of Russian watchers. Stanislav Govorukhin made a really excellent movie. He told us a simple story of Sovie Criminal Investigation department in Moscow in 1945, with main protagonists Gleb Zheglov (played by already ailing and very weakened Vladimir Vysotsky) and Vladimir Sharapov (Vladimir Konkin) trying to catch and arrest the famous after-war gang, The Black Cat. This is a part of Russian history and very severe one. The movie is a feast of superb actors - Yurski, Sadalski, Fateeva, Zaklunnaya, Dzhigarkhanyan, Bortnik, Gerdt among many. This is a very period piece, but so timeless and so deep that it stood the test of time extremely well. It is highly recommended for all who like Soviet history and deep decent psychological drama. Watch it and you will never be sorry or bored. This one is a real feast of real-life characters and thrilling events

This is a great movie. But the most touching scene for me is when Sharapov and Jeglov found their neighbor crying. Poor woman about 40, living with several children lost the food stamps for a whole family. And when Jeglov calmed her down and she managed to explain the situation, Jeglov immediately offered to that woman his own food stamps and the ones of Sharapov. Stunned Sharapov agreed and looked delighted; other neighbors gave some food too. And when woman started thanking him, promising to work for him, Jeglov forced her to cut it out immediately. They gave their food stamps almost for the whole month and now they have a big problem with their own food, but you feel that they are happy. It is the real thing, on which the Soviet power was based on. This is the way, we managed to won the WW2. It is the thing that was inherent for the real Russian (Soviet). Now, under the yoke of 'democracy' we have deprived of our soul, we have deprived of our nation, we are not Russians anymore, we are scum, just like an Americans. 'Kremlads' turned the life of almost all the population into the chase for peanuts. And meantime dirty rats sold our country out and killed our future. There is no even 1 real Russian in this territory, there is not even such country like Russia. It is just a prison, filled with slaves sentenced to death. As for USA, they can only make a parody for charity. They call this charity to have the right to bawl that they are the most charitable nation in the world, while destroying other countries and preparing another world war.

True classics of the Soviet cinematography. Vyssotsky is brilliant, but so are Konkin, Belyavsky, Yursky, Pavlov and all the rest. A suspense, rare for the Soviet movies, is greatly mixed with philosophy. Govorukhin in his best directing effort, a true talent and professional unlike in politics.

The film itself is nothing more than a OK detective story, and only the acting of one actor makes it into a great film; as always Vladimir Vysotsky steals the show, and makes the other actors seem just OK. A must see for someone who likes suspense, and great acting.