User reviews

This compelling tale follows the lives of four former schoolmates their loves, their joy, their tribulations, Beginning at the students graduation ceremony the exciting and happy atmosphere gives the impression that the film is going to be a light hearted musical. However as the future unfolds, life for the now young adults becomes complex and challenging, splitting apart the friends find placements in different fields across the Soviet Union and they also choose very different moral paths... Raznye sudby is an excellent typically wholesome multi faceted Soviet melodrama. Highlighted throughout wonderful music, terrific characterizations and stunning cinematography. Capturing magnificent city and industrial landscapes with artistic compositions, the closing shot is a remarkably expressive portrait...

Most surprising for a Soviet film of this era is the central bad girl role, a captivating performance from Tatyana Piletskaya as Tanya.. The film is certainly no dim lit noir but nevertheless Tanya is a cold manipulative self centred femme fatale who causes great distress to her male suitors, family and friends... Highly Recommended outstanding Soviet Classic Film !!