BY THE BLUEST OF SEAS
Screenplay by K. MlNTS
Directed by B. BARNET Co-directed by S. MARDANOV
Cinematography by M. KlRlLLOV
Music by S.l. POTOTSKY Production Designer V.B. ADEN
Starring Ye.A. KUZ'MlNA as Maria
L.N. SVERDLlN as Youssouf N. KRYUCHKOV as Alyosha
A coproduction of
MEZHRABPOMFlLM and AZERFlLM
Moscow - Baku
ln the Caspian Sea, a boat was shipwrecked in a storm.
For two days and two nights the current carried them southward.
For two days and two nights the young lives struggled with death.
Come on.
Don't, l'm ticklish!
ln the southern Caspian Sea, in Soviet Azerbaijan...
...there is an island.
What a beautiful island, isn't it?
Well... it's beautiful.
Wouldn't you agree?
Alyosha.
What are they doing there?
Who the hell knows?
What an interesting posture.
- Only broads here! - Women.
- Yeah, women. - Yes, women.
You can't even hit a dead duck.
No one can walk up straight when you go out hunting.
Fly faster, the seagull bird.
Over the blue sea, night is falling.
Hurry and bring me word
How my sweetheart is doing.
Tell him l won't be sad, won't moan,
That l'll never tire of loving him for long.
You and l, Alyosha, were near death
eleven times, in a storm at sea.
And l'm not frightened.
But saying to a woman ''l like you''...
l'm frightened.
You're not frightened?
lnteresting.
Anybody here?
- Hello. - Hello.
Whom do you want to see, handsome comrade?
Can l see someone from the farm's management?
You can.
- There's no one there. - You better look here.
What's this?
- My travel orders. - What travel orders?
My travel orders. Read them.
- lt's washed clean. - What do you actually want?
Did you request a mechanic from the city?
- We did. - Here l am.
A mechanic?
A mechanic.
- Really? - Really.
- My dear! - Why are you so happy?
We thought we wouldn't be able to set out to sea tomorrow.
- Where're your own mechanics? - We sent them to the army.
They left for the Far East.
For the Pacific Fleet!
We'll be here for the entire fishing season, all three months.
- And who are they? - My team.
Cowardly.
You never know.
Artist, meet the mechanic. He's arrived.
- ls he really a mechanic? - Yes, a mechanic.
What a relief!
Glad to meet you.
The farm's chairman.
So you're here.
We're here.
Mashenka, show him the motor boat.
Let's go.
Here it is. Take a look.
- Beautiful! - Beautiful?
Very beautiful.
So it's very beautiful?
Even more than beautiful.
Then examine it if it's so beautiful.
What is there to examine?
l can handle anything. Can handle a motorcycle.
Can handle a car.
- A plane too? - A plane too.
Liar!
What's this?
My favorite necklace.
Now try and get it. C'mon, dive.
Get it, she said.
What a shame!
Please, don't worry. He'll get it. He's a fine swimmer.
Don't worry, l say.
Meanwhile, take me to your farm's office.
l got my travel orders.
Here you go.
Been washed clean, too?
- What's washed clean? - Your paper.
Paper's here, stamp's here. Letters are gone.
Well, never mind.
Anyway, take me there, please.
He'll get it. Don't worry, please.
Alyosha, get all the beads.
Don't you worry.
Thus began their life at the ''Lights of Communism'' farm.
Losing your appetite because of a girl
you saw only once?
That never happens to me.
You're lying.
You fell for her head over heels.
You're eating just for show.
You're wrong.
l've got a very serious appetite.
You're crazy about her yourself.
l can see it alright.
Don't do that.
Look, Alyosha, let's not argue.
Sit here just one second.
l'll be right back. Bon appetit.
Every morning, under the blinding sun,
through the tempest and the storm,
in the cold North wind
or the hot sea breeze that originates in lndia -
Alyosha and Youssouf went to sea with the fishermen...
Until, one day...
Through the autumn foul weather
l'm wandering round your place.
Why am l dreaming of you, as ever,
Clad in ribbons, earrings, lace?
Why am l dreaming of you, as ever,
Clad in ribbons, earrings, lace?
Alyosha!
Alyosha's not onboard.
- What do you mean, not onboard? - Not onboard.
Not onboard.
l'll go and get him.
Alyosha got sick. He says, sick in the heart.
He won't go to sea.
Why in the heart? He got the healthiest heart.
Alyosha.
The motor boat stands idle.
What's the matter?
You crying?
How can you cry at such a hot time?
Does it hurt?
lt hurts?
You need a doctor?
You don't?
At such a busy time.
lt's not nice.
lnstead of the motor boat, the fishermen had to set out under sail.
Alyosha! The motor boat is idle, yes?
Push it.
All together. Come on, push it!
Come on, all together!
Push, push, granddad!
There you go! Good!
C'mon, push it. Good.
A little bit more.
All together!
The wind is whistling and hooting, The sea started a song.
The shaggy waves Are playing free and strong...
At night, when the fishermen were returning from sea.
Alyosha was coming back to the island from town...
Excuse me, Mashenka.
Alyosha.
We need to talk.
lf l tell the mountain of my plight,
the mountain will melt.
Why are you looking at me like this?
Don't look at me like this.
Tell him not to look at me like this.
l want to talk about my friend.
About my best friend and comrade.
Here he is, standing before you.
A malingerer and slacker. Look at him.
Alyosha, l said to you, let's go.
And he -- ah and oh, was crying.
Need a doctor? No.
l was telling him, l was begging him.
Alyosha, let's go.
Let's go.
But he wouldn't budge.
But he did budge! And where did he go?
He went to town, he bought...
...beads, some rubbish.
Rubbish!
You understand? You're the only mechanic for the whole farm.
The whole farm. You understand?
You don't understand.
The motor boat was idle, wasn't it? lt was.
How many fish did we get?
Five times less than usual.
How could you let down the entire farm?
And me, too.
Let me speak now.
You know what, Youssouf? l'm looking at you, and l think.
l think it's you who ought to marry Mashenka.
- Me? - You.
Me?
Alyosha.
Are you serious?
l'll marry her.
l'll marry her!
Oh, Alyosha!
l'll have such a good life! Splendid life!
You know, Mashenka and l,
we two are just like one person.
We'll go fishing together.
We'll have a son, a daughter.
Lots of them. One, two, three, four, five.
Five.
You know what a wedding l'm going to arrange for myself!
Just imagine: the sea, the seagulls,
ten boats, one after another.
On each boat, 21 ... no, 22 musicians.
You are the conductor of the whole symphony orchestra!
lt plays!
The music plays!
Oh, it plays so beautifully...
Even fishes listen to it.
And we're sailing, sailing...
No, not sailing.
We're flying like seagulls.
Wonderful!
No.
l won't marry.
l feel sorry for you. l can't.
Alyosha.
Look, let's talk straight.
Enough of beating about the bush.
Pigs might fly before Mashenka is yours.
Mashenka will never be yours. Never!
And what am l, chopped liver?
You think l'll let you have Mashenka?
And you think l'll let you have Mashenka?
l shall fight for Mashenka as if we were at war!
Oh, l'm trembling! l'm not afraid of you.
Why are you yelling? Some hero!
No, it's all wrong. Let's ask her.
Yes, let's ask her.
- Mashenka. - Mashenka.
What a serious day today.
Mashenka!
That day the fishing season was over in the southern Caspian.
Youssouf and Alyosha were to return to the city.
There was a festive mood all over.
But at the ''Lights of Communism'' farm...
The sea has torn from our ranks
a dearly loved comrade.
A fine team leader is no more.
Mashenka is no longer with us.
She is not among the living.
We've lost a beloved friend.
Masha.
Who has died? Tell me.
You died. You died.
- You have died. - You died.
For the ataman of the women's team!
Here, Mashenka!
Toss him!
Comrades, there're better workers than me. Toss them first.
All right. Now keep silent.
Comrades, l'm asking you.
Alyosha, you're my friend, aren't you?
Enough, l feel giddy already.
Stop it, comrades. Thank you.
Alyosha, you're my friend, aren't you?
Comrades, stop it. l'm begging you.
Alyosha, you're my friend, aren't you?
Don't forget yourself, Alyosha!
Thank you, comrades. Thank you very much.
l have a business at home.
Alyosha's waiting for me.
Comrades, l think he ought to try the suit on.
lt might be not his size, it won't fit him well.
Won't fit his figure.
Right, he certainly ought to try it on.
lt might not fit his figure.
No trying on. Granddad, why try it on?
lt's about my size. l'm telling you in Russian.
Mashenka, l need to talk to you.
l'm telling you in Russian.
Alyosha's waiting for me. You understand?
Alyosha can wait.
- Granddad, it suits me fine. - You must try it on.
No. lt's my size, l'm telling you.
lt might not fit you.
Don't take my pants off. Why are you taking my pants off?
Granddad, perhaps my most favorite girl is being taken from me now.
What are you doing?
You must try it on.
Listen, granddad. Shame on you, granddad.
Perhaps my happiness is running away from me now.
Don't tickle me! l'm ticklish!
Let me go. Enough.
lt's just the right size.
Enough, it's fine. lt's the right size, l say.
Granddad, it's a good fit. Let me go!
Mashenka, are you ready?
Alyosha.
Don't worry, l won't go.
Go, l said.
l can't. Some other time.
lf you can't, then l'll go.
- Where are you going? - Let me go.
Let go! Let go!
Alyosha!
Alyosha, open up, l said! Alyosha, let me in!
- What's going on there? - Nothing. Nothing.
All right.
Shame on you, granddad.
l told you l didn't have to try it on. lt's perfect.
Now it's just perfect.
l love you, Mashenka.
What do you mean, you love me?
Just that. l fell in love with you.
What are you saying, Alyosha?
My dear, good, sweet Alyosha.
l don't love her at all.
And does she love you?
- l think she loves you. - You're lying.
Go and ask her.
You don't love her at all, not even a little bit?
Sit down, Youssouf.
Let's talk.
Mashenka.
We'll set out to sea together.
l wanted to explain it to Alyosha, but he ran away.
Hear me out, and you'll understand.
Yes, l'll understand. l love you, Mashenka.
And l love another man.
l'm sorry, Mashenka. He deceived me again.
Who?
Alyosha said you were in love with me.
Wait. Wait, Youssouf.
Here, look.
ls that your brother? Very handsome.
He is not my brother. He is my fiance.
My beloved. l gave him my word.
He's far away now, in the Pacific.
lt makes no difference, Mashenka. l love you so much.
l love you. You understand?
Try to understand.
What if Voroshilov calls you up for service?
l'd be glad to.
And you'll go far away, to the border.
l'd be glad to.
And the woman you love will find herself another man.
She'll get tired of waiting.
How will your worried heart take it there?
Think about it.
You're saying the right words.
Only l love you even more, Mashenka.
Petka.
Come here for a minute.
Farewell, Lyuba.
Farewell, Petka.
Where are you going?
Going home, the fishing season has started there.
How about the motor boat?
You'll manage it now.
Well, farewell, Alyosha.
Farewell, Petka.
Only l forgot to say goodbye to everyone.
Give my regards to all of them.
Your fishermen will come back soon!
Who set out to sea?
- Alyosha did. - Who?
He went home for good!
Alyosha went home.
Alyosha!
Wait! Wait, l said!
Mashenka, l'll be right back.
l'm going home, too.
Give our regards to everyone at the farm!
Our warmest and deepest regards!
- Don't tickle me. - Oh, l forgot.
She doesn't love me.
Big deal. She isn't even beautiful.
Why are you lying, Alyosha?
She is very beautiful, she is very nice.
And you love her, and l love her.
But she's got a fiance.
- What fiance? - What fiance?
A good fiance.
He's serving in the Pacific Fleet.
Some fiance. Four years at sea, and still a fiance.
And what if you and l were fiances,
and were called up to serve in the Pacific?
And your bride were to find another man.
How would your heart feel there? Worried.
So it's not nice.
Not nice at all.
Wouldn't you agree?
Fly faster, the seagull bird.
Over the blue sea, night is falling.
Hurry and bring me word
How my sweetheart is doing.
Tell him l won't be sad, won't moan,
That l'll never tire of loving him for long.
Fly through the clouds, bird.
The waves are making the boat careen.
My sweetheart will forget all hurt
When he remembers me.
Fly faster, the winged one...
The End