The Enchanted Desna (1964) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language

1964 · 77 mins · Russian

Loading streaming availability…

Directed by

Yuliya Solntseva

Starring

Vladimir Gusev, Boris Andreyev, Evgeniy Samoylov, Boris Yurchenko, Zinaida Kirienko, Vyacheslav Voronin

Adapted from Oleksandr Dovzhenko’s novel, the film follows the early life of the Ukrainian director, born in Chernihiv on the Desna River. It has two parts: the first shows the world through six‑year‑old Sashko’s eyes; the second follows his adult self, now a colonel, recalling his past while leading the liberation of his native village in the war.