10 best Russian-language films of all time according to Letterboxd

The Russian film industry is one of the oldest in the world, with the country’s earliest films being released in the early years of the 20th century. Russian-language films continued to be produced with great success throughout the era of the Soviet Union, and many highly acclaimed Russian-language films were released during this historical period (1922–1991).

The following are the top rated films that were filmed in Russia or the Soviet Union and featured Russian as the primary language. Andrei Tarkovsky well represented considering he is arguably the most famous Russian director of all time and has made many classic films, but he is far from the only famous director in the country’s history to have made great films. According to Letterboxd users, these are the highest rated Russian films of all time.

10 “Solaris” (1972)

Letterbox Rating: 4.2/5

An intriguing and thoughtful sci-fi film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. Solaris has an impressive average rating of 4.2/5 according to Letterboxd users. It’s a nearly three-hour movie about a psychologist who is sent to a space station to treat various mentally disturbed astronauts left behind, only to find his mind unraveling in space.

It is known that Tarkovsky was frank against 2001: Space Odysseywhich Solaris sometimes compared to , due to the fact that it is long, deliberately tempo and thematically rich. Tarkovsky potentially made this sci-fi film to comment on the then-recently released Stanley Kubrick film, which makes them interesting to watch together, to compare and contrast them with each other.

9 ‘Nostalgia’ (1983)

Letterbox Rating: 4.2/5

Joint production of the USSR and Italy. Nostalgia - one of the most intense and intriguing films of Andrei Tarkovsky. It follows a poet and his interpreter from Russia who travel to Italy to research the life of an 18th-century composer, only to meet a man named Domenico who discusses his strange world views with the poet.

Thus begins an unusual relationship between two men that eventually leads the poet to remember his life, the people he knows, and the history of where he comes from. It’s a convoluted but interesting study of character, with an expectedly leisurely pace and so many things to say about human nature.

8 ‘Man with Movie Camera’ (1929)

Letterbox Rating: 4.2/5

call Man with a movie camera, a revolutionary documentary would be an understatement. This is a crazy and amazingly well-edited silent film that explores life in Moscow in the 1920s, presenting normally mundane events in a way that makes them gripping and visually captivating.

Unlike other Russian films, with which it has a high Letterboxd rating, it is not included in the site’s Top 250 Feature Films list due to its exclusion of documentaries. Movie lovers are still indispensable, no matter how much they like documentaries, because this is a historically important film that helped redefine the boundaries of what could be done with composition and editing.

7 ‘Mirror’ (1975)

Letterbox Rating: 4.3/5

Mirror is another film by Andrei Tarkovsky with a surprisingly high rating on Letterboxd. It is an intimate character study that also serves to document various events in the history of the Soviet Union, framed as the memoirs of a dying middle-aged man.

Structurally and stylistically, Mirror an exceptionally daring film as the past intertwines with the present and the various memories shown on screen are presented in non-chronological order. It’s a very action-packed film, even by Tarkovsky’s standards, but it’s likely to prove useful to viewers who want to immerse themselves in it on as deep a level as possible.

6 ‘Rise’ (1977)

Letterbox Rating: 4.3/5

Presenting one of the most memorable looks at World War II in film history, ascent considered a brilliant and somewhat underrated war film. It follows two men who need to travel to occupied German territory to get supplies, and their journey will be especially grueling and heartbreaking to see him on screen.

The most striking thing about ascent is how well it conveys the coolness of its setting, as few films convey such an visceral feeling of cold. It’s a harrowing movie to watch and maybe not a movie that everyone can enjoy, although it’s undeniably powerful. As such, he is respected on Letterboxd, given his average rating on the site of 4.3/5.

5 “The Cranes Are Flying” (1957)

Letterbox Rating: 4.3/5

Combining the genres of romance and war into one brutally effective and emotional film, The cranes are flying - Another high-rated film about the war, filmed in the USSR. The plot revolves around two young lovers, Veronika and Boris, who fall in love with each other right before the outbreak of World War II, but are tragically separated when Boris is sent to fight at the very beginning of the war.

Their desire to reunite is constantly put on hold due to the protracted nature of the war. The cranes are flying one of those movies that just gets sadder with every scene. This makes it challenging at times, but well worth it due to the simple yet strong storytelling and stunning visuals.

4 ‘War and Peace’ (1965)

Letterbox Rating: 4.3/5

Few films can claim to be as epic as this adaptation. War and Peace. Divided into four parts and played for approximately seven hours, this colossal cinematic success serves as a surprisingly accurate film version of the famous novel of the same name. Lev Tolstoy.

The epic story, depicting various characters experiencing love and war during a turbulent period in Russian history, more than lives up to its long run. Some viewers may be put off by the fact that it’s seven hours long, but it’s clearly divided into four relatively full parts, and it’s ultimately better to watch it in those four parts rather than all at once.

3 ‘Andrey Rublev’ (1966)

Letterbox Rating: 4.4/5

Biographical film about the famous Russian artist. Andrey Rublev, this film is considered the longest film by Andrei Tarkovsky, its duration is just over three hours. However, it differs from the usual life-to-death narrative of most biopics in that it presents Rublev’s life in a radical, sometimes dreamy, and poetic way.

Andrey Rublev still remains one of Tarkovsky’s most accessible films and focuses on a more specific storytelling than many of his other notable films. Its delivery can be very unusual, but at its core, its plot is straightforward, with a contrast between historical history and experimental style, which makes it interesting to watch.

2 ‘Stalker’ (1979)

Letterbox Rating: 4.4/5

The highest rated film by Andrei Tarkovsky on Letterboxd is also his best known. This title Stalkerand it’s a slow-paced sci-fi movie about three men going to a strange place known only as The Zone, which is an almost alien place that supposedly grants the wishes of anyone who dares to venture into its center.

At the 162nd minute Stalker can be a tedious movie to watch, and that feeling is only made worse by its deliberate pacing. However, its haunting imagery and intense exploration of its characters’ psyches create an impression that is hard to shake off, and Letterboxd users find it powerful enough to rank #1 on the site’s top 250 feature films list.

1 “Come and See” (1985)

Letterbox Rating: 4.6/5

Not only Come and see the highest rated Russian film on Letterboxd, it is currently the highest rated film on the site, period. Known as one of the most suspenseful anti-war films of all time, it tells the story of a young boy involved in World War II, forced into conflict, and how it slowly erodes his psyche as the fighting continues.

It’s truly horrifying and even traumatic to watch because he refuses to take hits or back down from being steadfast throughout his existence. This is the director’s most famous film Elem Klimovwho, in particular, was married to fellow director Larisa Shepitkoherself behind another great film of the Soviet era about World War II: 1977 ascent.