Movies

Cherry Town (1963) Soviet romantic musical comedy with music by Dmitry Shostakovich, depicting the hopes and dreams of young couples trying to obtain apartments in a new housing development. More of a Light Opera than a musical in the modern style, it proceeds rapidly from one song to the next, with charming characters and colorful fantasy sequences. I was all starry-eyed and agog from beginning to end, as it is exactly to my tastes, though more discerning audiences might find it a bit tiring in its cheery hopefulness. Especially valuable in its historic depiction of how the society presented itself and its goals - having experienced that time period myself I recall that, despite the sociopolitical conflicts of the day there was a powerful hope for a better future supported by new technologies and modern ways of living. Bright, colorful, and entertaining throughout with appealing characters and kindly humor. 9/10

Dance fantasy of the Dream Apartment