#aleksey batalov

Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1980). This is a life story of three girlfriends from youth to autumn ages. Their dreams and wishes, love, disillusions. Different careers. And big late love.

There’s a lot to like in this melancholy movie about three women trying to get by in Moscow, especially in the first half where the film operates as a sort of slice of life character study. Unfortunately, it falls apart in the second half. It ditches two of the women’s narratives almost entirely and instead focuses on a ‘love’ story with a new, poorly drawn character that feels almost silly compared to the nuanced portrayals of other dynamics. It’s a real bummer, especially as the first half feels pretty special. 7/10.