Rodina zovyot: A Soviet Aviation Relic That Actually Flies

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for 1930s propaganda-tinged dramas or just really, really like old planes. If you want something fast-paced or logical, stay away. This is for the archivists and the folks who want to see how the USSR sold the dream of flight back in the day. ✈️

The film is basically a parade of idealism. Sergey Novikov is the ultimate hero. He’s the guy who probably never had a bad day in his life. You watch him and you think, 'man, I wish I was that composed.'

Wait, why is everyone so loud?

The acting style is definitely… an experience. It’s all very theatrical, like they’re performing for the back row of a stadium, not a camera lens. It feels like someone told them that if they didn't project their voice, the plane engines would drown them out entirely.

There is this one moment with Novikov in the cockpit where he’s staring into the distance. It lasts for a solid thirty seconds. I kept waiting for a cloud to pass by or a bird to fly past, but nothing. Just pure, unadulterated staring. It’s almost hypnotic.

• The aviation scenes are surprisingly earnest.
• The propaganda is thick enough to cut with a knife.
• The pacing is basically 'stroll, talk, look at plane, repeat.'

It reminds me a bit of the stuff they used to show in The Great Redeemer, but with more propellers and fewer moral dilemmas. It’s not trying to trick you. It’s not trying to be subtle. It’s just showing you a guy who loves his job and his country.

Is it better than, say, Ronny? That’s a tough call. They are playing in different sandboxes entirely. This one is way more concerned with the 'heroic' nature of the pilot than any kind of lighthearted romance.

The cinematography has this weirdly dusty look to it. Everything feels like it’s being viewed through a layer of old film stock that hasn't been cleaned in decades. Honestly, I liked that. It added a texture that digital movies just don't have.

I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. I’d call it a time capsule that accidentally left its keys inside. It’s clunky, it’s loud, and it absolutely refuses to be anything other than what it is. And for that, I kinda respect it.