Love and Lies (1981) User Reviews

Russian Romeo and Juliet plus essays on love

[Silents Fan · 8/10 · 18 January 2003]

At first glance, this seems like a simple retelling of Romeo and Juliet with teenage lovers frustrated by the machinations of their families.

Tatyana Aksyuta is well-cast as the waif-like Katya who seems in danger of being consumed by her passion for the son of her mother's old boyfriend. Likewise, Nikita Mikhajlovsky, gives probably the best performance of his short, tragic career as Roman, whose pure, boundless love for Katya triumphs over the scheming of his mother and grandmother.

But there is more to the story which seems intent on examining all the different ways that love can grow, change, thrive or die.

Tanechka, the sympathetic teacher longs for the pure, romantic love of literature and is unsatisfied with the attentions of her rather crass lover. Searching for perfection, she seems certain to live her life alone and unfulfilled.

Katya's mother seems finally to have found contentment with her second husband after a failed teenage romance with Roman's father and a failed first marriage to Katya's father.

Roman's father's lingering love for Katya's mother makes him seem like a fool, but, because he is in love, he doesn't care.

Roman's mother's love for his father and for Roman finds expression only in jealousy, bitterness and manipulation.

This is a pretty story, well-portrayed by appealing actors. And unlike Shakespeare, it has a happy ending.

Go soviet movie!

[ineffableee · 9/10 · 26 March 2021]

Recently I discovered Soviet cinema for myself and I can say that it is great. Each film was created as a separate masterpiece with its own melody (music is even worth watching). A story that was filmed exactly at that time oddly enough...Soviet Romeo and Juliet. The story of acquaintance and first love in the realities of those harsh times. Good acting, I haven't seen such sincerity for a long time. Wonderful and sad story, classics of Soviet movie.

The film by itself is just good, but the beautiful music makes it a masterpiece

[phume · 10/10 · 22 November 2003]

The film is very melodramatic and even tragic. It would become another firm Russian movie, just FIRM, if.. if there were no music written by Russian/Soviet melodic genius Alexey Rybnikov. The music for "Vam I Ne Snilos" has happened to be one of his top achievements. People usually watch this film either with tears on their eyes or at least with a huge lump coming to their throat. The main theme song "The Last Poem" written over lyrics by Rabindranat Tagor and performed by Irina Otieva, is just tremendous! Alexey Rybnikov is a favourite apprentice of the great Russian composer Aram Khachaturyan. He is well-known also as the author of the first Soviet rock-opera "Juno and Avos". As a film composer he's written soundtracks to over than a 100 films, most of which are bearing the same "cosmic" feel as music for "Vam I Ne Snilos". Due to the soundtrack I give this film a solid 9 outta 10. And of course I must admit the excellent actor jobs of Nikita Mikhaylovsky and Tatyana Aksyuta, as well as of other decent actors starring here.

Must to watch film!

[sam_best-16882 · 10/10 · 20 October 2018]

Very romantic movie! Recommended for all ages! But of course, for teenagers that will be the best!

It gives insights of the relations within families from soviet and post-soviet countries and how it affects children who are experiencing first love. Its actually can be considered as masterpiece of soviet romanticism, especially with such a wonderful soundtrack. To be honest I first fall in love with the OST, and then watched the movie.

To cap it up, enjoy the moment and watch this classics!

Ilya Frez's simple yet lovely film is something that's a rarity now.

[khanbaliq2 · 6/10 · 7 August 2013]

Love And Lies became a success in the Soviet Union mostly thanks to the actors involved. The casting is nearly perfect. Tatiana Aksyuta received most of the praise for her portrayal of the schoolgirl Katya Shevchenko. She looks very sweet in this film, especially when she's wearing glasses. She's a beautiful brunette but her beauty is captured best in the 1989 film Savraska. When filming began Aksyuta was 23 years old, but she passed as a schoolgirl. There are scenes, however, when she looks too sophisticated for a high school student. Aksyuta retired from acting in the early-1990s. She had a few notable film roles, including Martha in The Story Of The Voyages (1983). Still, most people know about her only because of her role as the schoolgirl Katya. Nikita Mihailovsky was 16 during the shoot. I'd say that his acting is just as good and maybe even better than Aksyuta's. He's entirely believable as the well-meaning and honest Roma Lavochkin. In addition to the pure romance of Katya and Roma there's a subplot about their saddened literature teacher Tatiana Koltsova, played by Yelena Solovey. In the supporting cast Albert Filozov stands out the most. As Roma's father he is a voice of reason. The film is based on the novel Roman And Julia by Galina Shcherbakova. It was named the best film of 1981 in a poll by the magazine Soviet Screen. Love And Lies is an educational melodrama, the kind that's rarely released nowadays. I recommend it.