House Under the Starry Skies

House Under the Starry Skies

Year: 1991

Runtime: 121 mins

Language: Russian

Director: Sergey Solovyov

ComedyFantasyThrillerDrama

Old scientist Bashkirtsev is very surprised to discover the possible contacts with other world…

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – House Under the Starry Skies (1991)

Explore the full timeline and setting of House Under the Starry Skies (1991). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1980s, Perestroika era in the Soviet Union

The late 1980s in the USSR were marked by political reforms and social uncertainty. State authority and surveillance intruded into private life as reformers challenged old power structures. The story culminates in a hurried exodus to the United States as the regime's grip loosens.

Location

Moscow, Russia; Bashkirtsev's residence, Moscow; Arbat Street, Moscow

Most of the action unfolds inside the Bashkirtsev family home in Moscow, a symbol of prestige and influence during late Soviet times. The urban backdrop of Arbat Street and other Moscow locations sets the social texture of the era. A hangar on the outskirts becomes the setting for Timofey's hot-air balloon project, while the family's movements eventually bring them to the United States.

🏙️ Urban 🕰️ Perestroika Era 🕵️ Suspense

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:51

Main Characters – House Under the Starry Skies (1991)

Meet the key characters of House Under the Starry Skies (1991), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Валентин Компостеров (Aleksandr Bashirov)

A provocative outsider sent to destabilize the Bashkirtsev household. He performs a shocking magic trick, sawing Konstantin’s wife in half, and then declares he cannot reassemble her, signaling a malevolent, spirit-like influence. His drunken, aggressive behavior escalates violence and attracts heavy police attention to the family. He embodies the invasive force that corrupts domestic life.

🎭 Provocateur 🔥 Instigator 👁️ Threat

Константин Кологривов (Ilya Ivanov)

Nika’s husband, a pragmatic protector who becomes a target of Valentin’s menace. He helps the family endure the siege, but ultimately dies when Komposterov kills him with a laser-like strike during the final confrontation. His presence embodies loyalty and tragic sacrifice under relentless pressure.

🎭 Husband 🛡️ Protector 💀 Victim

Ника, младшая дочь Башкирцева (Mariya Anikanova)

The younger daughter of Bashkirtsev who forms a romance with Timofey on Arbat Street. She stays to tie up affairs, then escapes with Timofey and Konstantin, later sharing the danger and flight that lead toward a new life abroad. Her resourcefulness keeps the story emotionally anchored amid chaos.

🎭 Daughter 💞 Romance 🧭 Resourceful

Тимофей (Dmitriy Solovyov)

A flute player living in an empty hangar who constructs a hot-air balloon from stolen materials, symbolizing ingenuity amidst scarcity. He enters a romance with Nika and teams up with her to escape danger. He fights to survive the upheaval and helps drive the narrative toward a climactic showdown.

🎨 Artist 🎈 Inventor 💘 Romantic

Андрей Николаевич Башкирцев, академик (Mikhail Ulyanov)

The respected Soviet academician and a deputy of the Supreme Soviet who is kidnapped and tortured by mysterious men. His death is a catalyst for the family’s collapse into chaos and their subsequent flight to the United States. He embodies the era’s precarious power structures and their personal toll.

🎓 Academic ⚖️ Power 💀 Tragic

Жора, сантехник (Aleksandr Abdulov)

A mentally disabled plumber who becomes an incidental casualty in the crossfire surrounding the Bashkirtsev household. His presence underscores the collateral damage of a life lived under siege and the unpredictable nature of violence in the story.

🧰 Worker ⚖️ Innocence 💀 Victim

Лиза, старшая дочь Башкирцева (Aleksandra Turgan)

The elder daughter, whose role inside the family illustrates the balance of intellect and resilience amid upheaval. She navigates the turbulence around her family’s legacy and the changing political climate as events unfold.

👧 Daughter 🧠 Intellectual

Соня, жена Башкирцева (Alla Parfanyak)

Bashkirtsev’s wife, bearing witness to the family’s collapse and the violence that invades their home. Her presence represents the domestic sphere’s endurance under sudden danger and upheaval.

👩 Wife 💪 Resilience

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:51

Major Themes – House Under the Starry Skies (1991)

Explore the central themes of House Under the Starry Skies (1991), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Paranoia

Paranoia drives the narrative as a seductive outsider disrupts a once-stable family. The 'friend from Mosconcert' becomes an ominous figure, orchestrating danger within the home. The plot blurs the line between supernatural menace and real threat, with authorities and viewers never sure who can be trusted. The family’s sense of safety collapses as fear takes hold.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family

The story centers on Bashkirtsev’s clan, whose bonds are tested by violence, loss, and displacement. Love, loyalty, and resilience surface as members navigate kidnapping, torture rumors, and the threat of death. The family’s resilience leads to a daring escape and a new start abroad. The younger generation ultimately confronts danger with courage.

⚖️ Power

Power and influence shape every movement, from a celebrated academician to the coercive figures lurking in the shadows. The film depicts how state-like authority can intrude into private life, turning home into a battleground. Covert operatives and police presence generate a pervasive atmosphere of control and threat. The ending hints at resistance against corrupt systems through action and escape.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:51

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House Under the Starry Skies Summary

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House Under the Starry Skies Summary

House Under the Starry Skies Timeline

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House Under the Starry Skies Timeline

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