A Simple Story (1960 film)

A Simple Story
Directed by	Yuri Yegorov
Written by	Budimir Metalnikov
Starring	Nonna Mordyukova Mikhail Ulyanov Vasily Shukshin
Cinematography	Igor Shatrov
Music by	Mark Fradkin
Production company	Gorky Film Studio
Release date	1960 (1960)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	Soviet Union
Language	Russian
Box office	46,8 tickets sold

A Simple Story (Russian: Простая история, romanized: Prostaya istoriya) is a 1960 Soviet romantic drama film directed by Yuri Yegorov.^[1] The picture was the 48th most attended domestic film in the Soviet Union.^[2]

The film tells the story of a determined widow who becomes the first woman chairperson of a struggling collective farm, transforming it through resilience and leadership while navigating personal sacrifices, community dynamics, and her own evolving desires.

Plot

In the collective farm "Zarya," the position of chairman frequently changes, with new appointees every year. During one of the meetings, where the district committee introduces yet another candidate, widow Aleksandra Potapova—who, like many women in the village, lost her husband during the Great Patriotic War—unexpectedly suggests that a woman should take on the role. To her surprise, the community elects her. Aleksandra begins her new duties with determination, despite not fully understanding the complexities of the position. She faces challenges in her relationships with villagers, particularly with the former chairman, Lykov, whose son Ivan she has been romantically involved with. Aware of the scrutiny she faces as chairwoman, Aleksandra ends her relationship with Ivan and focuses on her responsibilities. Over time, her hard work inspires the villagers, who begin to support her efforts. The farm merges with another struggling collective, gradually improving under her leadership.

Throughout her work, Aleksandra frequently interacts with Danilov, the district committee secretary, and falls in love with him. Although he reciprocates her feelings, Danilov cannot bring himself to make a change in his life. In the film's final scene, district officials arrive to offer Aleksandra the position of director at an advanced state farm equipped with modern technology and better living conditions. Initially, she agrees, but as she steps outside and sees her concerned fellow villagers silently opposing the idea, she decides to stay with her community.

Cast

• Nonna Mordyukova as Sasha Potapova^[3]
• Mikhail Ulyanov as Secretary of the Communist Andrey Egorovich Danilov
• Vasily Shukshin as Vanka Lykov ^[4]
• Daniil Ilchenko as Yegor Lykov, Ivan's father
• Valentina Vladimirova as Avdotya
• Irina Murzaeva as Sasha's mother
• Aleksey Mironov as Guskov
• Oleg Anofriev as Agronomist
• Tatyana Babanina as Nastassya Mineeva (as T. Babanina)
• Nina Sazonova as Lyuba

Production

The character of Potapova was specifically written for Nonna Mordyukova.^[5] She was born in Kuban into a peasant family and her mother was a kolkhoz chairman.^[6]

References

1. "24SMI". Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
2. Sergey Kudryavtsev. "Отечественные фильмы в советском кинопрокате". Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
3. "Нонна Мордюкова". Archived from the original on 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
4. "Фильм на сайте Василия Шукшина (кадры из фильма)". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
5. "Простая история (фильм)". VokrugTV. Archived from the original on 2017-05-12. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
6. "Простая история. Х/ф". Russia-1. Archived from the original on 2017-07-08. Retrieved 2017-04-29.

External links

• A Simple Story at IMDb
• KinoPoisk