The Cranes Are Flying
1957, Russian. Directed by Mikhail Kalatozov.
The compelling story of a girl's impassioned search for happiness.
Veronika and Boris come together in Moscow shortly before World War II. Walking along the river, they watch cranes fly overhead, and promise to rendezvous before Boris leaves to fight. Boris misses the meeting and is off to the front lines, while Veronika waits patiently, sending letters faithfully. After her house is bombed, Veronika moves in with Boris' family, into the company of a cousin with his own intentions.
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Russian
- Rated
- Check local
Start now and it ends at ….
Absolute Cinema
Drop everything and watch it.
7.9/10 from 487 TMDB viewer ratings.
Seen it? Give your verdict.
Saved privately on this device.
Where to watch The Cranes Are Flying
The Cranes Are Flying isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free online.
Free
ArtiflixAvailability in India as of 10 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Mikhail KalatozovDirector
- Tatyana SamoylovaVeronika
- Aleksey BatalovBoris
- Vasili MerkuryevFyodor Ivanovich
- Aleksandr ShvorinMark
- Svetlana KharitonovaIrina
- Konstantin KadochnikovVolodya
- Valentin ZubkovStepan
- Antonina BogdanovaGrandmother
- Boris KokovkinChernov
- Ekaterina KupriyanovaAnna Mikhaylovna
- Valentina AnaninaLyuba
- Valentina VladimirovaWoman Soldier
Details
- Released
- 12 October 1957
- Original title
- Летят журавли
- Country
- Soviet Union
- Written by
- Viktor Rozov
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
What The Cranes Are Flying is based on
The Cranes Are Flying is based on Alive Forever by Viktor Rozov.
Alive Forever
By Viktor Rozov
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
If you liked The Cranes Are Flying
Ashes and Diamonds
1958 · 7.4/10
Worth the HypeFans watch both
Ballad of a Soldier
1959 · 8.0/10
Absolute CinemaFans watch both
Kanal
1957 · 7.6/10
Worth the HypeFans watch both
A Generation
1955 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickFans watch both
Ivan's Childhood
1962 · 7.8/10
Worth the HypeFans watch both
Father of a Soldier
1965 · 7.1/10
Worth the HypeFans watch both
Twenty Days Without War
1976 · 6.6/10
NewFans watch both
Come and See
1985 · 8.2/10
Absolute CinemaFans watch both
The Dawns Here Are Quiet
1972 · 7.1/10
Worth the HypeFans watch both
The Best Years of Our Lives
1946 · 7.7/10
Worth the HypeFans watch both
The Cranes Are Flying: quick answers
Is The Cranes Are Flying worth watching?
Our verdict is Absolute Cinema: Drop everything and watch it. It scores 7.9/10 from 487 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is The Cranes Are Flying?
The Cranes Are Flying runs 97 minutes (1h 37m).
Does The Cranes Are Flying have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Cranes Are Flying. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Cranes Are Flying parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Cranes Are Flying yet.
Which OTT platform is The Cranes Are Flying on?
The Cranes Are Flying isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free online. (Checked 10 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Cranes Are Flying?
If you liked The Cranes Are Flying, try Ashes and Diamonds, Ballad of a Soldier, Kanal.
Who directed The Cranes Are Flying?
The Cranes Are Flying (1957) was directed by Mikhail Kalatozov and stars Tatyana Samoylova, Aleksey Batalov, Vasili Merkuryev.
What is The Cranes Are Flying based on?
The Cranes Are Flying is based on Alive Forever by Viktor Rozov.