A Long and Happy Life

A Long and Happy Life

Year: 2013

Runtime: 77 mins

Language: Russian

Director: Boris Khlebnikov

Drama

Sascha manages a struggling collective farm in a remote village on the Kola Peninsula of Russia, respected by his workers and involved in a discreet relationship with Anya, a local government secretary. His peaceful existence is disrupted when ambitious officials propose a profitable deal for the farm, exploiting the fact that his lease was only a verbal agreement. Facing pressure from the administrators and encouragement from his loyal employees, Sascha must decide whether to accept the offer or fight to protect his livelihood and the community he serves, all set against a stark and beautiful landscape.

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Timeline & Setting – A Long and Happy Life (2013)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Long and Happy Life (2013). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

N., Kuibyshev

Set in the town of N., the location feels like a slice of Siberia’s youth, with quiet streets and a pale winter light. The river runs through the town, where a floating base and a passing bus route anchor the daily pace. A local cultural club hosts a Moscow Art Theatre troupe performing The Cherry Orchard, giving the town a temporary stage for memory and longing.

❄️ Siberian town 🎭 Culture 🚌 Bus journey 🌊 River life

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:38

Main Characters – A Long and Happy Life (2013)

Meet the key characters of A Long and Happy Life (2013), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Viktor

An engineer returning from a three-month expedition, Viktor carries a quiet, reflective presence. On the bus bound for N., he forms a tentative connection with Lena and reveals a desire to start a journey in any direction. He calls himself a 'free man,' yet his sudden departure the following morning hints at unresolved responsibilities. He remembers his childhood on a high-altitude station, a memory that informs his longing for something bright and true.

🧭 Wanderer 🔎 Mysterious ❤️ Romantic

Lena

She coordinates the local cultural event and carries a quiet sense of responsibility. She confesses a fear of 'living an empty life,' revealing her desire for meaning beyond routine. Her connection with Viktor grows through shared memories, and she navigates motherhood with her three-year-old daughter. Her choices reveal a cautious optimism about what life might become.

🎭 Organizer 💬 Reflective 👩‍👧 Mother

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:38

Major Themes – A Long and Happy Life (2013)

Explore the central themes of A Long and Happy Life (2013), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💞 Love & Fate

Two strangers meet by chance and quietly unlock a possibility for a different life. Viktor's confession of seeking something bright and true resonates with Lena's own fear of living an empty life. Their conversation carries Chekhovian echoes from The Cherry Orchard, linking private longing to a broader sense of fate. The relationship suggests that love can be both a refuge and a departure from routine, shaping choices that may not be fully realized.

🌟 Existential Longing

Both characters search for meaning beyond the comfort of a predictable day. Viktor's self-description as a 'free man' collides with the realities of departure and responsibility. Lena's desire for a life with purpose contrasts with the everyday pressures of motherhood and work. The film uses quiet dialogue and shared memories to explore how small moments can illuminate larger questions.

🕊️ Freedom & Duty

Freedom appears as a promise of new directions, but duty to others — including Lena's child — complicates decisions. Viktor's abrupt departure after their morning breakfast reveals the tension between personal longing and commitment. The narrative frames choice as a balance between personal brightness and the duties that tether us. The conclusion leaves intimacy unresolved, mirroring the uncertain future that freedom demands.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:38

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about Quiet Lives in Stark Landscapes like A Long and Happy Life

Slow-paced dramas where characters contemplate life against vast, beautiful scenery.Discover movies like A Long and Happy Life that capture the gentle, melancholic drama of rural existence. If you enjoyed the slow pacing, beautiful but harsh scenery, and the focus on life's quiet choices, you'll find similar stories of reflection and resilience in these films.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow characters as they navigate the challenges and solitude of living in remote, often beautiful but demanding environments. The central conflict is often internal—a struggle with purpose, memory, or belonging—set against a backdrop that emphasizes their small place in a larger world.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together for their shared emphasis on atmosphere over plot, their melancholic and reflective tone, and the way they use setting to amplify the characters' emotional states. They offer a similar viewing experience of quiet contemplation.

Movies with Bittersweet Farewells and Missed Connections like A Long and Happy Life

Stories where brief, intense bonds end with a poignant sense of what could have been.If you liked the bittersweet, unresolved ending of A Long and Happy Life, explore these movies about fleeting romance and missed connections. These stories capture the poignant feeling of a promising bond that couldn't last, leaving characters with a sense of longing and unfulfilled potential.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves two characters forming a deep, often intellectual or soulful connection that feels fated yet fragile. External pressures or internal hesitations prevent the relationship from fully blossoming, leading to an ending that is emotionally resonant, somber, and focused on the memory of what almost was.

Why These Movies?

This thread unites films that share a specific emotional arc: the rise and fall of a poignant, non-permanent connection. They are linked by their bittersweet tone, medium-to-high romance scores coupled with significant sadness, and their exploration of longing and memory.

Unlock the Full Story of A Long and Happy Life

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Long and Happy Life in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Long and Happy Life is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Long and Happy Life Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Long and Happy Life, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Long and Happy Life Summary

A Long and Happy Life Timeline

Track the full timeline of A Long and Happy Life with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

A Long and Happy Life Timeline

A Long and Happy Life Spoiler-Free Summary

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A Long and Happy Life Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Long and Happy Life

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Long and Happy Life: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About A Long and Happy Life