Konets Zhuravlikhi Review: A Slow, Rewarding Glimpse into a Fading World

So, 'Konets Zhuravlikhi' isn't for everyone, let's just get that out there. If you're into films that take their sweet time, let you just *be* with the characters, then yeah, give this a shot. But if you need things moving, plot twists, big speeches? Nah, probably skip it. 😴

The film, which I think means 'The End of Zhuravlikha,' kinda just *starts*. You're dropped into this sleepy, almost forgotten village.

It feels like time itself just decided to slow down there, maybe even stopped a while ago.

The Pace of Life

Kuzma Povalikhin plays, uh, I think his name was Ivan. He mostly just watches things.

There's this one scene where he's just sitting on a porch, staring at a chicken for what feels like five minutes. No dialogue, just the chicken pecking.

You really start to wonder what he's thinking. Or if he's thinking anything at all. 🤔

Stepan Khodulin's character, the elder of the village, has this worn-out coat. It's not just a prop; it *feels* like part of him, like it's seen every single winter the village has endured.

His hands, too. So gnarled, picking up a single potato.

The pacing is… deliberate. Sometimes, a shot lingers on a distant tree for a beat too long, but then you realize that *is* the point.

It makes you really notice the quiet.

Small Moments, Big Feelings

There's a recurring shot of the river, always flowing the same way. It's calm, but you feel this underlying sadness, almost like it's saying goodbye.

Or maybe that's just me projecting. Who knows?

The story, if you can call it a story, is more about atmosphere. It's about the feeling of a place slowly fading. You don't get a huge event that *ends* Zhuravlikhi, it's more of a gentle drift.

Like a candle flickering down to nothing.

One moment that stuck with me: Tikhon Shamonin's character, a younger guy, tries to fix a broken well pump. He struggles for ages, gets dirty, bangs on it.

Then he just gives up, sits down, and just stares at his muddy hands. It felt so real, that feeling of futile effort.

The sound design is pretty stark. Wind, creaking doors, the distant sound of a dog barking that you only hear if you really listen.

No big, swelling score, thank goodness.

Characters and Details

Fyodor Shumilov's performance is, well, *subtle*. He's got this particular way of nodding, very slow, like he's weighing every single syllable someone says.

Even when he's not saying anything, he's saying a lot.

There's a brief shot of a child's toy, forgotten in the tall grass. A small, almost blink-and-you-miss-it detail.

But it hits harder than any grand monologue about loss could.

Is it Worth Your Time?

Is it a perfect film? No. It meanders sometimes. The middle section, especially, can feel a bit *too* slow, even for its own good.

You might catch yourself checking the time.

But then something happens, a brief glance or a specific sound, and you're pulled right back in. It's the kind of film that rewards patience, not attention spans.

You just have to let it wash over you.

I kept thinking about Red Courage, not because they're similar plots, but because they both have this very *grounded* feel to the place. Just people living their lives, simple as that.

So, yeah. For certain film buffs, absolutely. Others, maybe not. But it's got a certain quiet power to it, if you let it get to you. ✨