''There Is Such a Lad'' () is a 1964

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

romantic comedy film Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Romantic comedy e ...

, directed by

Vasily Shukshin Vasily Makarovich Shukshin (; 25 July 1929 – 2 October 1974) was a Soviet Russian writer, actor, screenwriter and film director from the Altai region who specialized in rural themes. A prominent member of the Village Prose movement, he beg ...

. The movie is based on Vasily Shukshin's collection of short stories. The movie tells the story of an Altai truck driver Pashka Kolokolnikov (played by

Leonid Kuravlyov Leonid Vyacheslavovich Kuravlyov (; 8 October 1936 – 30 January 2022) was a Soviet and Russian film actor. He became a People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1976. Early life Kuravlyov was born in Moscow into a working-class family. His father Vyac ...

) - a kind, funny, and outgoing person, who loves life. He is a simpleton with a variety of gross provincial expressions and remarks, who likes to make fun of people and play practical jokes. But it turns out that he can also be a hero, when he prevents the explosion of a gasoline truck by risking his life.kino/movie/sov/2229
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Plot

The film follows Pashka Kolokolnikov, nicknamed "Piramidon," a young, optimistic, and somewhat naïve truck driver navigating the Chuisky Tract near Gorno-Altaysk. Open-hearted and curious about life, Pashka encounters various people on his journeys, each shaping his experiences. One day, he meets a kolkhoz chairman who hires him to transport timber. During this assignment, Pashka meets Nastya, a reserved librarian, and begins courting her. Despite his efforts, Nastya remains indifferent, preferring her suitor Gena. After an awkward confrontation, Pashka accepts her rejection and even encourages Gena to reconcile with her, reflecting on his own unlucky love life. In another episode, Pashka picks up a city woman who discusses household culture. Initially refusing her payment, he becomes offended by her husband's dismissive remark and demands an exaggerated fare. Later, he visits his old acquaintance, Katya, hoping to reignite their friendship, but she rejects his advances, leading to an argument about modern relationships. That night, Pashka hears a story from his landlady about a driver who encountered a spectral woman in white—a personification of Death. This tale haunts Pashka, and he dreams of Nastya as the mysterious figure, blending his romantic longing with existential fears. During a routine trip with his colleague Kondrat Stepanovich, Pashka plays matchmaker, introducing him to a widow named Anisya, leading to a budding romance. Pashka’s life takes a dramatic turn when a fire breaks out at a fuel depot. While others flee, Pashka heroically drives the burning truck off the premises, preventing an explosion but sustaining injuries. In the hospital, a journalist from Leningrad interviews him, sparking a playful connection. He also has a heartfelt conversation with a retired teacher, who urges him to pursue knowledge and find joy in simplicity. The film ends with Pashka dreaming of Nastya again, but this time she appears as Love rather than Death, inspiring him to persevere and seek fulfillment in life.

Awards

The film won the ''Lion of Saint Marco'' prize at the

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival (, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival held in Venice, Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the ...

in 1964 for Best Children's Film and received an award at the All-Union Film Festival (Leningrad, 1964) for Best Comedy Film ("For the cheerfulness, lyricism and originality").

Cast

as Pashka Kolokolnikov * Lidiya Chaschina as Nastya Platonova * Larisa Burkova as Katya Lizunova * Renita Grigoryeva as a city woman * Nina Sazonova as Anisya * Anastasia Zuyeva as Marfa *

Bella Akhmadulina Izabella Akhatovna Akhmadulina (, ; 10 April 1937 – 29 November 2010) was a Soviet Union, Soviet and Russian poet, short story writer, and translator, known for her apolitical writing stance. She was part of the Russian New Wave literary movem ...

as journalist * Boris Balakin as Kondrat Stepanovich *

Rodion Nakhapetov Rodion Rafailovich Nakhapetov (Russian: Родион Рафаилович Нахапетов; born 1944) is a Soviet-American-Russian actor, film director and screenwriter. He received the People's Artist of the RSFSR (1985). Asteroid 256697& ...

as Gena * Viktor Filippov as collective farm chairman * Ivan Ryzhov as Head tank farms * Nikolai Fedortsov as Pasha friend * Yevgeniy Teterin as teacher * Natalia Gitserot as Leading fashion show * Yuri Grigoryev as Oleg * Elena Volskaya as nurse * Nina Ivanova as Nina

Production

During filming Boris Balakin continued working despite suffering from fever. After finishing a scene with Nina Sazonova the crew went on lunch break, while Balakin rested on his chair in the décor. Trying to get up, he died of a heart attack. In order to keep Balakins' part in the film, director Shukshin rewrote his screenplay to remove Balakin's one unfilmed scene.

References

External links

* 1964 films 1964 romantic comedy films Soviet romantic comedy films Russian-language romantic comedy films 1960s Russian-language films Soviet black-and-white films Films directed by Vasily Shukshin 1960s Soviet films Gorky Film Studio films {{1960s-romantic-comedy-film-stub