Svoy sredi chuzhikh, chuzhoy sredi svoikh

1920s, a small town in the south of Russia. The civil war is over, but the complete victory of the Bolsheviks is still far away. A group of bandits from former white officers rob a train with gold, with which they had to buy bread for the hungry, and five friends - former red fighters - engage in a deadly battle with them. Suspicion of treachery falls on one of them, and, having escaped from his comrades, he must return the gold to prove his innocence.

Should really be recognized as a Western classic, or at least world's best "Eastern" - Mikhalkov follows the rules of the genre impeccably, easily weaving in 1920's Russia setting, revolutionary romanticism and "cool" charismatic bad guys, a rare thing in Soviet cinema. Cast is superb - probably the best combination of young actors of the decade, including Mikhalkov himself as Yesaul.

An easy-going movie that mixes black-and-white cinematography with the colour one and comedy elements with high-power drama. The only thing I feel sorry for in this film is the absence of widescreen. The film would be so much better visually in widescreen.

The scenes which represent Brylov's dreaming are quite funny and strange. Brylov's manners are ridiculous and weird too: he looks like a man out of this world, a loony criminal with "refined taste".

I cannot compare it to any other movie. It's done in a very unique way (hectic bizarre clipping, grainy picture mixed with fine colour scheme, freaking behaviour of the baddies and goodies, deep adult emotions flavoured by some childish spontaneity all through the film, erratic close-ups of the characters blended into the picturesque shots of wide valleys, etc.). "Beloe solntse pustyni" (1970) was completely different and to say the truth I never liked it much. As to this one, it's the only Nikita Mikhalkov's movie I really enjoy.

It's a festival of human emotions without unnecessary scenes (sex, bloody brawls, endless gunfighting) so frequent in action cinema. An action film can be like this: humane, captivating, tough, and emotional. Even a small child can see it and enjoy, learning a lesson or two about life...

If only it were in widescreen... Still, 10 out of 10. Thanks for attention.

One of the best Nikita Mikhalkov's pictures. A gripping, rather confusing adventurous plot, fragmentary editing, mysterious look of heroes - all this became a fresh breeze in the soviet cinematography of the 70th. The excellent crew including a big number of greatest russian actors in the beginning of their career. Beautiful and piercing main theme by Edward Artemyev thinly transfers the mood of the movie combining the romanticism of the 70th and the dramatic line of the picture. In 1974 the movie was sworn by critics. But years went by. And now it's considered to be the cult one.

a Nikita Mikhalkov. with each of elements who defines his work - humor, heroism, sacrifice, justice, melancholic crumbs. a kind of Eastern on the young Soviet Union construction. but out of political circle. because it is only a story. about duty, trust, friendship and profound truth. and not that bricks are fundamental but the manner to present it. with subtle irony, delicacy and a fine Russian style. a film about justice and a hero with has not ambition to be more than a common man. an interesting performance and few splendid images. and special atmosphere. is it enough ? is it too much ? it is just a pure Mikhalkov movie. ant this fact is only essential.