Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego

Generally, amnesty is provided to prisoners on humanitarian grounds in order to initiate reform process. However, there are instances when an offer of amnesty is misused by certain prisoners. Director Alexander Proshkin's Russian film "The cold summer of 1953" chronicles how some escaped convicts misuse amnesty provided to them to terrorize innocent villagers. Based on a series of true events which have a lot of historical significance for Russian people, Proshkin's film faithfully describes how the clash of ideologies continue to have a massive impact on the destinies of ordinary people. In the case of this film, Soviet leader Stalin's death enabled Beria to proclaim amnesty for hardened criminals, a group of people who were deemed as 'enemy of the state'. For a film which has a steady balance of action, drama and thriller, it is surprising to note that some space was also kept for portraying the innocence of ordinary people who were determined to continue with their ordinary lives. This quality would surely appeal to all viewers who might like to explore new facets of this film.

One of the best Soviet movies. A must see along with reading Solzhenitsyn's books.

Alright, listen. Some movies are entertaining. Some make you think. And then there are the rare ones that crawl under your skin and never leave. This is one of those.

No flashy effects. No cheap tricks. Just raw, unfiltered storytelling that hits like a freight train. Set in a world where survival and morality aren't just choices but a constant fight, this film doesn't tell you what to feel-it makes you live it.

The performances? Next-level. You don't just watch these characters-you breathe with them, fear with them, hope with them. The tension? It builds so naturally, so relentlessly, that before you know it, you're gripping the edge of your seat, completely lost in a world that feels dangerously real.

And that's what makes it great. It's not here to comfort you. It's here to challenge you, unsettle you, stay with you long after the credits roll. This isn't just a film-it's an experience.

One of the greatest ever made? No question.

That's exactly the kind of Russian film I crave for. No propaganda here, not any garbage junk destined to idiotic audiences. It is a dark, gloomy, realistic analysis of the Russian society thru this solid, strong story, pulled by powerful characters. Not destined to wide western countries audiences though, they are not smart enough - I mean the bulk of audiences, not EVERY AUDIENCE. I thought of LEVIATHAN, THE MAJOR, other outstanding features from Russia. OK, it may be slow, but it coincides with the plot set in Siberia. It is not FAST AND FURIOUS either.....The story is really engrossing for intelligent people who are curious enough to discover and watch it.

Grainy stock gives this film an almost documentary feel and has the additional effect of underscoring the dismal state of the trading outpost at which most of the events take place. _The Cold Summer of 1953_ is more authentic and less hysterical than _Gulag_, although it makes the same points with regards the social standing (or, more accurately, the complete lack of social standing) of political prisoners in postwar Russia. Looked down upon by even the most violent of criminals, the two political exiles still maintain a sense of dignity and, to some extent, honour, in the face of their privations.