On October 27, the film "Velga" was released — a coming-of-age story of an unusual girl and her first love against the backdrop of the stunning beauty of the Murmansk region.

"Do you hear how plaintively the seagull cries over the noisy, agitated sea?" — these words begin "Velga," a touching story by Ivan Alekseyevich Bunin, written in 1895. 127 years later, on the big screen, Olga Bodrova literally soars like a seagull in the role of Velga in the eponymous adaptation by debutant director Anastasia Nechaeva. From the very first moments, the film immerses you in the meditative atmosphere of wild nature and the lives of simple village children, and doesn't let go until the end credits. Even the predictability of the plot does not spoil the overall impression.

Living in Spite of Everything

The shore of the North Sea. The village of Kuzomen. Young Velga returns from fishing with her father (Alexei Guskov). They are met by Kirill (Anton Fedoseev), Velga's beloved, with whom she grew up side by side and who now seems to have matured into deep, genuine feelings.

On the anniversary of their mother's death, Velga's older sister Snega (Alexandra Tulinova) arrives from the city. The girl's appearance brings chaos to the usual way of life in the village.

"Velga" is a bright film at its core. It is best described as "sweet sadness." But in every frame, in every dialogue, there are notes of tragedy.

Here, Alexei Guskov's character yearns for his departed wife and writes her letters she will never read. And on the other edge of the village lives a retired judge (Sergei Shakurov), who seems to have lost not only the ability to walk normally but also the meaning of life. Standing apart is a shaman woman (Evgenia Mangadzhieva), whose daughter drowned in the sea – she cannot let go of her child and aimlessly spends her days on the shore.

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Almost all characters here live in spite of everything. In spite of pain, loss, uncertainty. Because they have to. Because life is one, and it can be beautiful, as beautiful as the shores of the North Sea. And this is one of the messages that the viewer can grasp and take away after leaving the cinema.

Living for the Sake Of

"Velga" boasts an abundance of plot vignettes, but the central place in the film is given to love. What else is there to live for if not for the brightest of feelings?!

Through a classic love triangle, the authors show not only the experiences of the first truly strong emotions, but also a way to illustrate the characters' maturation, their acquaintance with themselves, and their attempts to understand the world around them. Actors Bodrova, Fedoseev, and Tulinova perfectly convey this innocence and the uncertain first steps of adult life of their characters.

The proposed plots are largely primitive and predictable. But this can also be seen as an obvious plus – clarity and universality. Every viewer will recognize themselves in some episode, compare their similar experiences and actions with those of the characters. And this evokes emotions. In this simplicity lies the beauty of the film "Velga."

Of course, one must mention the external beauty. Cinematography is always an important attribute of cinema, but here its value accounts for almost 50% of the success of the entire film. Slow-motion shots with close-ups of the characters, a reverent attitude to showing details (you can see every berry on the snow), and reverence for the wild nature of the Murmansk region – the spectacle that the authors offer us is simply mesmerizing. While watching, it's easy to catch yourself thinking that you literally feel the sea breeze on your skin. This adds a sense of presence and immersion in the overall meditative atmosphere.

Watching "Velga" is pleasant, watching it is interesting. Undoubtedly, this is simple cinema, and the plot development and its ending are guessed around the 10th minute, but after all, the end of life is also predictable, does that make it any less beautiful?

"Velga" in theaters from October 27.

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