The Love of Mankind (1973)
A Soviet drama by Sergei Gerasimov tracing love, ambition, and memory among young architects building a city in the Siberian wilderness.
The Love of Mankind - Movie Information
- Original Title: Любить человека
- Release Year: 1973
- Directed by: Sergei Gerasimov
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Runtime: 2h 45m
- Original Language: Russian
- Spoken Languages: Russian
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 8, 1973 (SU)
- Alternative Titles: Lyubit cheloveka (RU)
- Production Companies: Gorky Film Studios
- Production Countries: Soviet Union
The Love of Mankind - Plot
A film about young architects who are building a new city in Siberia (Norilsk), their anxieties, concerns, and victories. Story of subtle psychology of love and personal happiness experienced men and women, behind the shoulders of which the pain of the past
The Love of Mankind - Trailer
Preview a glimpse of this intimate Soviet drama set against the Siberian frontier.
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The Love of Mankind - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Sergei Gerasimov
Main Cast
- Anatoliy Solonitsyn
- Lyubov Virolainen
- Tamara Makarova
- Zhanna Bolotova
- Ivan Neganov
- Mikhail Zimin
- Yuriy Kuzmenkov
- Yuri Volkov
- Nikolay Eryomenko
- Yuri Gusev
Writers
- Sergei Gerasimov
The Love of Mankind - FAQs
What is The Love of Mankind about?
The Love of Mankind follows a group of young architects tasked with building a new city in the Siberian wilderness of Norilsk. Beyond the construction site, the film delves into their inner lives — the anxieties, quiet triumphs, and deeply personal stories of love shaped by the pain of their pasts.
Who directed The Love of Mankind?
The Love of Mankind was directed by Sergei Gerasimov, one of the most celebrated filmmakers in Soviet cinema history. Gerasimov also wrote the screenplay, bringing his signature humanist sensibility to this intimate portrait of love and idealism set against the vast Siberian landscape.
Who are the main actors in The Love of Mankind?
The film features a rich ensemble cast including Anatoliy Solonitsyn as Dmitry Kalmykov, Lyubov Virolainen as Maria, Tamara Makarova as Aleksandra Vasilyevna Petrushkova, and Zhanna Bolotova as Tanya Pavlova, alongside Ivan Neganov, Mikhail Zimin, Yuriy Kuzmenkov, and Nikolay Eryomenko.
When was The Love of Mankind released?
The Love of Mankind was released on January 8, 1973, in the Soviet Union. Directed by Sergei Gerasimov and produced at Gorky Film Studios, it stands as one of the more thoughtful and emotionally layered Soviet dramas of the early 1970s.
Why is Anatoliy Solonitsyn's role significant in this film?
Anatoliy Solonitsyn, best known internationally for his collaborations with Andrei Tarkovsky, brings rare emotional depth to his role as Dmitry Kalmykov. His performance anchors the film's psychological core, making the character's internal struggle between professional ambition and personal longing feel genuinely compelling and human.
How long is The Love of Mankind?
The Love of Mankind runs for 165 minutes — just under two hours and forty-five minutes. It's a generous runtime that allows Sergei Gerasimov to develop his characters with patience and care, letting the emotional rhythms of the story breathe naturally across its Siberian setting.
What makes The Love of Mankind a distinctive Soviet drama?
Rather than focusing on grand ideological themes, the film turns inward, exploring the quiet psychology of love and happiness among ordinary people. Gerasimov frames the Siberian construction project as a backdrop for deeply personal stories, giving the film an intimacy and warmth unusual for Soviet cinema of its era.
What are some films similar to The Love of Mankind?
If The Love of Mankind resonates with you, you might also enjoy Love at Twenty (1962), Summer Palace (2006), Ashes in the Snow (2018), and My Tender Matador (2020). These films share a similar emotional register — intimate, character-driven stories where love unfolds against larger historical or social backdrops.
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