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Trailer

Ballad of a Soldier

1959Movie1 h 29 min

DramaRomance
89
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2Rotten Tomatoes94%93%

A deeply moving, melancholic drama movie about history and family.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want something to laugh at

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Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

From the very pages of life itself!

During World War II, earnest young Russian soldier Alyosha Skvortsov is rewarded with a short leave of absence for performing a heroic deed on the battlefield. Feeling homesick, he decides to visit his mother. Due to his kindhearted nature, however, Alyosha is repeatedly sidetracked by his efforts to help those he encounters, including a lovely girl named Shura. In his tour of a country devastated by war, he struggles to keep hope alive.

Feels like

  • World War II
  • Russian Cinema
  • Humanist Drama
  • Journey Home
  • Kindness and Compassion
  • Tragedy of War
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Melancholic Tone
  • Classic Film

Cast

24 of 44

Crew

Directed by
Grigoriy Chukhray
Written by
Valentin Ezhov, Grigoriy Chukhray
Produced by
Pavel Danilyants
Music by
Mikhail Ziv

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 1, 1959 · 1 h 29 min · Violence

Released
December 1, 1959
Runtime
1 h 29 min
Content
Violence
Genres
Drama, Romance, War
Original language
Russian
Made in
Russia
Available in
9 countries

Tropes

Older Sidekick, Bookends, Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder +9

  • Older Sidekick
  • Bookends
  • Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder
  • An Arm and a Leg
  • During the War
  • "Pan Up to the Sky" Ending
  • Meadow Run
  • Ballad of X
  • Downer Beginning
  • Captain Smooth and Sergeant Rough
  • Insecure Love Interest
  • Leg Focus

12 of 18 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Ballad of a Soldier?"

Questions about Ballad of a Soldier

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Ballad of a Soldier?

CriterionDarkroom

In the United States, Ballad of a Soldier streams on Criterion, and it is free with ads on Darkroom. It also streams in 4 other countries.

Is Ballad of a Soldier worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89 (IMDb 8.2 and Rotten Tomatoes 94%).

Is Ballad of a Soldier okay for kids?

Violence

Yes: its content advisories are violence, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is Ballad of a Soldier good for date night?

and 4 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFamily Movie NightFriends Night

Yes: romance is 7 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Is Ballad of a Soldier plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Ballad of a Soldier in English?

Russian

No, it was made in Russian.