A Slave of Love (1976)

A tender Soviet drama-romance from Nikita Mikhalkov, capturing love, art, and revolution in the final days of the old world.

A Slave of Love - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Раба любви
  • Release Year: 1976
  • Directed by: Nikita Mikhalkov
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy
  • Runtime: 1h 30m
  • Original Language: Russian
  • Spoken Languages: Russian
  • Release Date (Theatrical): September 27, 1976 (SU)
  • Alternative Titles: Raba Lyubvi (RU), Slave of Love (UK)
  • Production Companies: Mosfilm
  • Production Countries: Soviet Union

A Slave of Love - Plot

During the Russian Civil War, the production of a silent melodrama runs into numerous complications.

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A Slave of Love - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Nikita Mikhalkov

Main Cast

  • Yelena Solovey
  • Rodion Nahapetov
  • Aleksandr Kalyagin
  • Oleg Basilashvili
  • Konstantin Grigorev
  • Nikolai Pastukhov
  • Vera Kuznetsova
  • Gotlib Roninson
  • Inna Ulyanova
  • Evgeniy Steblov

Writers

  • Andrei Konchalovsky
  • Fridrikh Gorenshteyn

A Slave of Love - FAQs

Where can you stream A Slave of Love?

A Slave of Love is available to stream for free on Kanopy, a library-supported streaming platform. Availability may vary by region. You can check all current viewing options for your location on JustWatch, which aggregates streaming and rental information across multiple platforms.

What is A Slave of Love about?

Set during the Russian Civil War, A Slave of Love follows a film crew shooting a silent melodrama in the south of Russia. As Bolshevik forces close in, a celebrated actress falls for a cameraman secretly working for the revolutionary underground, blending romantic longing with political upheaval.

Is A Slave of Love based on a true story?

The film is not based on a single documented true story, but it draws inspiration from the real conditions of early Soviet cinema. The character of Olga Voznesenskaya is widely considered a tribute to silent-era actress Vera Kholodnaya, evoking the atmosphere of pre-revolutionary Russian melodrama filmmaking.

Who directed A Slave of Love?

A Slave of Love was directed by Nikita Mikhalkov, one of the most celebrated figures in Russian cinema. Mikhalkov later gained international recognition for films such as Burnt by the Sun, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1995.

Who are the main actors in A Slave of Love?

The film stars Yelena Solovey as the lead actress Olga Voznesenskaya and Rodion Nahapetov as the revolutionary cameraman Victor Pototsky. The supporting cast includes Aleksandr Kalyagin, Oleg Basilashvili, Konstantin Grigorev, Vera Kuznetsova, and Evgeniy Steblov, among others.

What genre is A Slave of Love?

A Slave of Love blends Drama, Romance, and Comedy. The film operates as a loving homage to early silent cinema while weaving in a bittersweet love story against the turbulent backdrop of the Russian Civil War, resulting in a tonally rich and emotionally layered work.

When was A Slave of Love released?

A Slave of Love was released on September 27, 1976, in the Soviet Union. The film was produced by Mosfilm, the major Soviet state film studio, and went on to earn considerable acclaim both domestically and among international audiences of world cinema.

How was A Slave of Love received by critics?

The film is widely regarded as one of Nikita Mikhalkov's finest early works and a gem of Soviet cinema. Critics have praised Yelena Solovey's luminous performance, Pavel Lebeshev's evocative cinematography, and the film's affectionate yet melancholic portrayal of a vanishing world on the brink of revolution.

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