In Spring (1929) Review: A movie that feels like a long, sunny nap

If you have an hour to spare and you don't mind a movie where nothing 'happens' in the traditional sense, you should really put this on. It is perfect for anyone who likes to stare at old photographs and wonder what those people were thinking. If you need a plot or people talking to each other to stay awake, you will definitely hate this and should probably watch something else.

It’s Kyiv in 1929. Mikhail Kaufman, who was the brother of that famous guy Dziga Vertov, is the one behind the camera here.

Honestly? I think Mikhail had a much better eye for the small stuff than his brother did. While his brother was obsessed with showing off how cool cameras are, Mikhail seems more interested in just looking at things. 🌿

The movie start with winter dying. It is mostly just shots of snow melting into big, messy puddles and water dripping off the edges of roofs.

It sounds boring when I write it down, but it is actually very satisfying to watch. You can almost feel the dampness of the air and that specific smell of wet dirt that happens when the sun finally comes out in March.

I noticed this one shot of a tree branch shaking off its ice that felt so heavy. It wasn't just a nature shot; it felt like the movie was taking its first big breath after a long sleep.

Then the people show up. Kaufman used a 'hidden camera' for a lot of this, which was a new thing back then.

You can tell because people aren't performing for the lens. They are just existing. 🚶‍♂️

There is a scene with kids in a playground that I loved. They are laughing and making these goofy faces, and they have no idea that a hundred years later, some guy in his living room would be watching them smile.

It makes the whole thing feel less like a dusty museum piece and more like a home movie you found in an attic. It’s weirdly personal.

The way he film things is very rhythmic. It’s like a song made of pictures. 🎶

Some of the industrial shots of gears and machines reminded me of British Industries: The Oxford University Press. But Kaufman makes the machines look almost alive, like they are part of the city’s heart beating.

There is this really strange sequence in a cemetery. It’s kind of dark compared to the rest of the film.

He cuts between the graves and the people living their lives outside. It’s a bit of a 'memento mori' moment, I guess, but it doesn't feel depressing. Just honest.

I did find the section with the sports and the gymnasts to be a bit long. It felt like he was trying to show off how healthy and strong everyone was in the Soviet Union at the time.

I kind of zoned out during the high-jumping. My mind wandered to what I was going to have for dinner. 🍕

But then it cut back to a shot of a woman’s face—she’s just looking into the distance and brushing her hair back—and I was right back in it. That’s the magic of this movie. It catches these tiny, human moments that most directors would edit out.

The editing gets faster near the end, very much in that old-school montage style. It can be a little dizzying if you aren't used to it.

There is no dialogue. No title cards telling you what to think or where you are. You just have to watch.

I think I saw a dog trip over its own feet in the background of one street scene. It made me laugh because it’s such a real, unscripted thing to happen.

It is definitely better than most of the stuff from that era because it doesn't feel like it is trying to teach you a lesson. It is just a declaration of love to a city that has changed so much since then.

If you’ve seen Kapten Grogg skall fiska or other early silents, you know how stiff they can sometimes feel. But In Spring feels loose and modern in a way that’s hard to explain.

It’s like sitting on a park bench for an hour and just watching the world go by without having to worry about your own life. It’s a very peaceful experience, mostly.

The shadows on the pavement, the way the light hits the streetcars, the old-fashioned hats everyone is wearing... it’s all just very cool to look at.

Don't watch this if you're already feeling sleepy, though. You'll be out in ten minutes. 😴

But if you want to feel something quiet and sort of beautiful, give it a go. It's a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon.

It's greatest strength is that it doesn't try to be 'important.' It just tries to be alive.

And it still feels very alive, even after all this time.