In this latest edition of my bringing to you my classic desert island favourites, a little ramble: we are so blessed to have such perfect cool air-conditioning to be kind to us all during the summer months, when my face looks like I moisturise with tomatoes or peaches (I don't). And after a long day, I can drive home in my faithful little car and recover in a peaceful hygge garden haven of a room. (I promise there's a reason for sharing all of this, because) all of this is to say that it often puts me in the mood for the cosiest, cheeriest winter film ever, the Soviet 'Girls' (1961). Another popular Russian Christmas favourite then and now, this is a classic romantic comedy that features the adorably-featured Nadezhda Rumyantseva as Tosya and popular male lead Nikolai Rybnikov. Little Tosya is a newly trained chef from Simferopol who is meant to run the mess hall at a faraway logging camp deep in a snowy forest. Sweetly, mischievously child-like but fierce and headstrong, Tosya makes friends in her cabin after a slightly rocky start, before meeting star logger Ilya Kovrigin (Rybnikov) at the community dance evening: Tosya is unimpressed when Ilya stops the music to focus on a chess game, and snubs his invitation to dance. Ilya then secretly bets rival logger Filya (charming Stanislav Khitrov) to see if he can change her mind.
And so it goes, with one of the most endearing, winning heroines you've ever seen (petite baby-faced Rumyantseva was already 30 but is very convincing as a naive 18 year old girl. a lot like Yours Truly). The film is beautifully, cleanly photographed, as characters navigate deep swathes of snow on brisk mornings and romantically cosy nights as the light from the little cabin windows guide valenki-and-galoshed feet. And it's not just about the charming Tosya, but her other girlfriends as they each navigate love and heartbreak, sadness and happiness, and figure out the future before them, but with a warmth for one another's wellbeing and happiness. And all this, with lovely music too (including a favourite song called 'Stary Klion' or 'Old Maple') help you understand why this is somehow a Christmassy film Xo
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