In June 1962, Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev ordered both an increase in dairy and meat prices at the same time as an increase in production quotas. An angry mob of factory workers in the town of Novocherkassk staged a protest at the local Communist Party administration offices. That protest was ended by the use of lethal force resulting in anything up to 70 deaths.
Director Andrei Konchalovsky, best known here for his 1985 action movie Runaway Train, shows the build up, the horrific events and the subsequent cover up in great detail, pointing the finger firmly at the KGB for using live ammunition on the crowd. The story largely focuses on the story of faithful party activist, Lyuda, played by the excellent Yuliya Vysotskaya, whose daughter Svetka goes missing in the wake of the events. Loginov, a remorseful KGB agent Vladislav Komarov helps Lyuda search for Svetka although both fear that she is amongst the dead. It is Lyuda’s story that gives the film its heart, as some may find the historical and political detail a bit dry, although that was equally compelling to me.
Andrey Naydenov shot the movie in exquisitely crisp black and white that enhances the almost documentary like realism that Konchalovsky achieves.
My only minor criticisms are that the script has some clunky elements, though that may be to do with the translation, and the ending didn’t quite have the power of earlier scenes. However, Dear Comrades is an early contender to be amongst the best of 2021.
Available on Curzon Home Cinema.
Rating: 9 out of 10