1945, Leningrad. WWII has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women search for meaning and hope in the stru... Read all1945, Leningrad. WWII has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.1945, Leningrad. WWII has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 32 wins & 56 nominations total
Kseniya Kutepova
- Lyubov Petrovna
- (as Ksenia Kutepova)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
You could expect a 1945 Leningrad setting to be joyful after the Russian victory over Nazis, but writer/director Kantemir has caught the downside in Beanpole. It's a deeply moving, complicated story about two former soldiers who tackle the melancholy and desperation of victors with no spoils---just ruined buildings and crushed hopes.
This melancholy drama centers on two women: Iva (Viktoria Miroshnicenk) and Masha (Vasilisa Perelygina), who attempt to bring meaning to their lives after the devastation. Mostly it's about Masha's attempt to have a life within her, mainly a baby. Her first baby died at the hands of Iva, who now owes Masha a baby.
Through a series of lengthy scenes and shots (sometimes they are too long), the audience is drawn into the emotional needs of the protagonists set against the needs of the other Leningrad citizens to gain happiness and hope after a ravaging war. The scenes between Iva and Masha are lovingly and deeply felt as Masha navigates getting a replacement baby and Iva resists the machinations to do so.
Given the wide scope of WWII, Beanpole is a small-scale drama, whose intensity comes from the characters rather than the setting. Love is the operative word, married to hope to make a satisfying character study in a drawn-out drama of human longing, regardless of the time period.
This melancholy drama centers on two women: Iva (Viktoria Miroshnicenk) and Masha (Vasilisa Perelygina), who attempt to bring meaning to their lives after the devastation. Mostly it's about Masha's attempt to have a life within her, mainly a baby. Her first baby died at the hands of Iva, who now owes Masha a baby.
Through a series of lengthy scenes and shots (sometimes they are too long), the audience is drawn into the emotional needs of the protagonists set against the needs of the other Leningrad citizens to gain happiness and hope after a ravaging war. The scenes between Iva and Masha are lovingly and deeply felt as Masha navigates getting a replacement baby and Iva resists the machinations to do so.
Given the wide scope of WWII, Beanpole is a small-scale drama, whose intensity comes from the characters rather than the setting. Love is the operative word, married to hope to make a satisfying character study in a drawn-out drama of human longing, regardless of the time period.
This film set in post-war USSR is beautifully shot and superbly acted. Every scene is a work of art that reglects the melancholic mood of that generation. Not a light watch, but extremely rewarding.
The Russian film Dylda was shown in the U.S. with the translated title Bean Pole (2019). It was co-written and directed by Kantemir Balagov
The movie is set in Leningrad right after World War II. Viktoria Miroshnichenko plays Iya, who has suffered brain damage in combat during the war. She has been discharged, and now works as a nurse or attendant at a hospital for wounded soldiers. (She is, indeed, a head taller than the other women, and very slender, so that's why she's called Bean Pole.)
She is joined at the hospital by her wartime friend, Masha, portrayed by Vasilisa Perelygina. Masha, who was also wounded, stayed in combat until the war ended. When we first see her, she's still wearing her army uniform.
The film was very grim, as it focused on the wounded men in the hospital, and the physical and emotional problems of the two women. I was surprised that there was very little anti-Stalinist material. In the movie, the government recognizes the sacrifices that the people have made, and appears to be doing its best to help. I don't know whether this reflects the reality of the time or not.
This is a complex film, because it portrays two very different women, each of whom has suffered terribly, and both of whom are trying to bring some normalcy into their lives.
As far as I can remember, there were only a few moments where anyone smiled in the movie. Those were hard times, and people were glum and depressed.
However, the film is so well constructed, and so well acted, that it's worth seeking out and watching. We saw Dylda at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. However, it should work well enough on the small screen. The film has a solid IMDb rating of 7.2. I think it's even better than that.
The movie is set in Leningrad right after World War II. Viktoria Miroshnichenko plays Iya, who has suffered brain damage in combat during the war. She has been discharged, and now works as a nurse or attendant at a hospital for wounded soldiers. (She is, indeed, a head taller than the other women, and very slender, so that's why she's called Bean Pole.)
She is joined at the hospital by her wartime friend, Masha, portrayed by Vasilisa Perelygina. Masha, who was also wounded, stayed in combat until the war ended. When we first see her, she's still wearing her army uniform.
The film was very grim, as it focused on the wounded men in the hospital, and the physical and emotional problems of the two women. I was surprised that there was very little anti-Stalinist material. In the movie, the government recognizes the sacrifices that the people have made, and appears to be doing its best to help. I don't know whether this reflects the reality of the time or not.
This is a complex film, because it portrays two very different women, each of whom has suffered terribly, and both of whom are trying to bring some normalcy into their lives.
As far as I can remember, there were only a few moments where anyone smiled in the movie. Those were hard times, and people were glum and depressed.
However, the film is so well constructed, and so well acted, that it's worth seeking out and watching. We saw Dylda at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. However, it should work well enough on the small screen. The film has a solid IMDb rating of 7.2. I think it's even better than that.
I just think that people who are not from Russia or not from a former USSR republic don't understand how deep and important this film is. we are (russians and ex-soviets) are so used to the glorification of WW2, but this film doesn't do it. no, it shows how bleak and joyless the life after war is and it may not seem so groundbreaking for the western viewer but it is for me. also Kantemir Balagov isn't even 30 years old and he is a master of the craft alreasy. it means something.
This movie is an intense and thoughtful exploration of relationships between survivors of war. The desire to find meaning and love and connection drive people to do beautiful and desperate things, and in the end to find either peace or conflict within depending on what they can accept and create within their minds. Beautifully acted.
Did you know
- TriviaKantemir Balagov's main source of inspiration was Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich's book "War Does Not Have a Woman's Face", written in 1983.
- Quotes
Nikolay Ivanovich: Where would he have seen a dog? They've all been eaten.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Evening Urgant: Iowa (2019)
- How long is Beanpole?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Дилда
- Filming locations
- Saint Petersburg, Russia(setting of the action)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $196,258
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $10,008
- Feb 2, 2020
- Gross worldwide
- $1,591,621
- Runtime
- 2h 10m(130 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content