Your Acquaintance
| Your Acquaintance | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Lev Kuleshov |
| Written by | Aleksandr Kurs |
| Cinematography | Konstantin Kuznetsov |
| Edited by | Lev Kuleshov |
Production company | |
Release date |
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| Country | Soviet Union |
| Languages |
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Your Acquaintance (Russian: Ваша знакомая, romanized: Vasha znakomaya) is a 1927 Soviet short silent drama film directed by Lev Kuleshov and starring Aleksandra Khokhlova, Pyotr Galadzhev and Yuri Vasilchikov.[1][2] Only a fragment of the film still survives.
The film's art direction was by Vasili Rakhals and Alexander Rodchenko.
Plot
The film is set in Moscow during the years of the New Economic Policy (NEP). Journalist Khokhlova becomes infatuated with Petrovsky, a responsible officer at an industrial plant. This romance negatively impacts her professional life, and she is fired from her job. Meanwhile, Petrovsky's wife returns, which exposes his true nature as an egoist and vulgarian. As Khokhlova spirals toward despair, contemplating suicide, she is saved by Vasilchikov, a modest editor at the "Working Inventions" department, who has been secretly in love with her for a long time.
Khokhlova is an honest and professional journalist who faces failure both in her career and personal life. She writes an article about the activities of trade unions, but when it displeases her editorial superiors, she loses her job. Despite her setbacks, she remains a complex character—often clumsy, distracted, and humorous.
The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of urban life, and explores the complexity of human relationships. Based on a script by Alexander Kurs, the film originally envisioned the lead role for actress Alexandra Khokhlova, with the direction by her husband, Lev Kuleshov. However, the script was heavily revised under pressure from Soviet authorities, and the film was ultimately released under the title Vasha Znakomaya (Your Friend). Despite these changes, the film still offers a poignant portrayal of a woman grappling with betrayal and heartbreak, ultimately conveying a message of resilience and hope.
Cast
- Aleksandra Khokhlova as Khokhlova - journalist
- Pyotr Galadzhev as Secretary
- Yuri Vasilchikov as Vasilchikov
- Boris Ferdinandov as Petrovski
- Anna Chekulaeva as Petrovsky's wife
- Aleksandr Gromov as Typographer
References
- ^ Christie & Taylor p.434
- ^ Jay Leyda (1960). Kino: A History of the Russian and Soviet Film. George Allen & Unwin. p. 234.
Bibliography
- Christie, Ian & Taylor, Richard. The Film Factory: Russian and Soviet Cinema in Documents 1896-1939. Routledge, 2012.
External links