Russian Culture Lesson: Victory Day edition

Victory Day in Russia is so ubiquitous that it’s hard to think about anything else. The parade is over, but Moscow is still swarming with people enjoying the spring weather, walking streets empty of cars. Many will settle down and watch 17 Moments of Spring, a classic Soviet-era miniseries that recounts the adventures of a Soviet spy undercover in Nazi Germany. It’s shown on TV every May 9.

But there are other options. Like Ivan’s Childhood, the first feature film by Andrei Tarkovsky, one of the Soviet Union’s best directors (possibly the best). It tells the story of a young boy working reconnaissance at the front, using the unconventional structure and beautiful cinematography that best marks Tarkovsky’s work. You can watch it in full, with subtitles, below. If you haven’t the time for that, at least watch the first three minutes or so to take in the film’s incredible opening scene. (If you like Soviet films, legendary film studio MosFilm has recently uploaded a ton of its most famous films, in full length and with subtitles, onto YouTube.)