There Is Such a Lad

There Is Such a Lad

Year: 1964

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: Russian

Director: Vasiliy Shukshin

ComedyRomance

A story about Pashka, a really decent, honest guy, even though he lies a lot, who is looking for happiness and love.

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Timeline & Setting – There Is Such a Lad (1964)

Explore the full timeline and setting of There Is Such a Lad (1964). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1960s-1970s Soviet Union

The story is set in a Soviet rural milieu with collective farming life, state-run transport, and a social order that frames romance and ambition. Road life, depots, and local administration hint at a period of post-war modernization and cultural change. The era serves as a stage for intimate, human dramas set against larger societal norms.

Location

Chuisky Tract, near Gorno-Altaysk

The film unfolds along the Chuisky Tract, a long road through the Siberian countryside near Gorno-Altaysk. It centers on truckers, rural communities, and a remote fuel depot, capturing the practical rhythms of Soviet road transport. The landscape and roadside towns provide a backdrop for encounters that shape Pashka’s hopes and fears.

🗺️ Road 🏔️ Siberia 🚚 Trucker life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:47

Main Characters – There Is Such a Lad (1964)

Meet the key characters of There Is Such a Lad (1964), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Пашка Колоколников (Pashka Kolokolnikov) — Leonid Kuravlyov

An open-hearted, optimistic truck driver who moves through the Chuisky Tract with wide-eyed curiosity. His naïve charm makes him susceptible to unrequited love, yet he remains steadfast and generous, even offering encouragement to others. His near-misses with love and fate culminate in a heroic act that transforms his outlook on life.

🚚 Trucker ❤️ Romantic 🌟 Naive

Настя Платонова (Nastya Platonova) — Lidiya Aleksandrova

A reserved librarian whose cool demeanor hides a capacity for quiet affection. She alternates between indifference and attraction as Pashka pursues her, ultimately choosing another suitor. Her choices push Pashka to confront the nature of love and rejection.

📚 Librarian 💔 Reserved 🌸 Independent

Гена, инженер (Gena, Engineer) — Rodion Nahapetov

A practical engineer who vies for Nastya’s attention, representing a reliable, conventional path. He embodies the competing visions of stability and romantic pursuit that define Pashka’s struggle.

🧰 Engineer 💬 Competitor 🧭 Stable

Катя Лизунова (Katya Lizunova) — Larisa Burkova

A former friend of Pashka who rejects his advances when he revisits their old pattern of flirtation. Her response underscores the evolving social rules about friendship and romance on the road.

👩‍🦱 Ex-friend ❣️ Rejection 🗣️ Independent

Кондрат Степанович (Kondrat Stepanovich) — Boris Balakin

Pashka’s colleague and matchmaker who introduces him to a widow, Anisya. He embodies camaraderie and the complexities of helping others find companionship.

🤝 Friend 💘 Matchmaker 🚜 Rural

Анисья (Anisya) — Nina Sazonova

A widowed woman connected to Kondrat, whose budding romance with him highlights the film’s theme of second chances and quiet resilience. Her presence broadens Pashka’s circle of human connections.

💑 Widow 🪪 New romance 🏡 Domestic

Иван Егорович Прохоров, председатель колхоза (Chairman Prokhorov) — Viktor Filippov

The kolkhoz chairman who hires Pashka to haul timber, representing authority and the backbone of rural economic life. His interactions with Pashka frame the logistics of labor and trust on the road.

🏛️ Chairman 🧭 Authority 🚚 Leader

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:47

Major Themes – There Is Such a Lad (1964)

Explore the central themes of There Is Such a Lad (1964), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love

Pashka’s romantic optimism drives his pursuit of Nastya, even as she remains reserved and chooses another. The film juxtaposes his vivid longing with the reality of unrequited affection, highlighting the vulnerability of a hopeful heart. Across their interactions, love is depicted as both transformative and precarious.

👻 Death

A landlady’s tale of a driver meeting a white-clad woman—Death personified—haunts Pashka and blurs the line between dream and fate. He experiences ominous visions, infusing his romance with existential fear. The specter recurs as a symbol of danger around the open road.

🔥 Courage

Pashka’s heroism shines when he drives the burning fuel truck away from the depot, sacrificing his safety to prevent a catastrophe. The act earns him respect and leaves him physically scarred, yet morally emboldened. It underlines how ordinary courage can redefine a life.

🌿 Simplicity

Interludes with a retired teacher and reflections on everyday joys emphasize values beyond romance and fame. The characters learn to find meaning in small pleasures and knowledge, reinforcing a sense of contentment with simple, honest living. The film suggests fulfillment comes from sincere connections and curiosity.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:47

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