The 1975 film by Georgi Daneliya "Afonya" was an unexpected commercial hit in USSR. The main character "Afonya" Borshev is a plumber, who spends his life partying with "buddies", many of whom he doesn't even remember after nights of heavy drinking. His wife leaves him, his boss places him on probation, his whole life is falling apart, but he doesn't realize it. Afonya met Katya at a dance club, yet didn't pay her much attention. But she is the one, who can save him... In this movie Daneliya achieves a perfect balance of satire and drama. Quotes from the movie gained a cult status in USSR.
Acting
Kuravlyov's drunken charisma masks devastating emptiness.
Direction
Daneliya walks the razor's edge between laugh and lump in throat.
Writing
Dialogue so quotable it became Soviet vernacular.
Director
Georgiy Daneliya
Leonid Kuravlyov
Afonya
Yevgeniya Simonova
Katya
Evgeni Leonov
Kolya
Savely Kramarov
Egoza
Nina Maslova
Elena
Boryslav Brondukov
Fedul
Valentina Talyzina
Lyudmila Vostryakova
Vladimir Basov
Vladimir Belikov
Nikolai Parfyonov
Boris Petrovich
Gotlib Roninson
astronomer
Tatiana Rasputina
Lyudmila
Raisa Kurkina
aunt Frosya
Nina Ruslanova
Tamara
Nikolay Grabbe
Vladimir Nikolaevich
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film's quotes became Soviet shorthand for lovable failure — 'Afonya' entered the language as a type.
Daneliya fought to cast Kuravlyov against type; the actor was known for villains, not vulnerable antiheroes.
SU
