Moscow doesn’t believe in tears (Moskva slezam ne verit) is a Soviet movie that was directed by Vladimir Menshov and released in 1979. It is a melodrama about the life of three women who move from the countryside to Moscow in search for a better life. It was once a real blockbuster in the Soviet Union.

The story begins when Katja (Vera Alentova), Ljuda (Irina Muravyova) and Antonina (Raysa Ryazanova) move to a university dormitory in Moscow. They all came there for a good education, job and a husband. It turns out that life doesn’t always go the way you wanted it to go. Katja doesn’t pass the exam to a university and has to keep working in a factory. Katja and Ljuda fall in love at a party and after dating for awhile Katja becomes pregnant. When Rudolf (Juri Vasiljev) finds out that Katja has been lying to him  about her life including her job,  education and financial situation, he dumps her. At this point Antonina and Ljuda are married and Katja is raising her baby girl alone.

The movie is divided into two parts. The second part starts after about 15 years. Katja is a director in a factory, her daughter is a teenager and she lives in her own apartment. Only one thing’s missing from Katja´s life; a husband. Later on a local train she meets her future husband, Georgi (Aleksei Batalov). When everything is finally going the right way, Katja’s ex-boyfriend turns up demanding to meet his daughter. Because of this Georgi gets hurt and  disappears for a week.  Later Ljuda’s husband found Georgi, had a proper conversation with vodka and anchovy, and Georgi decides to come back to Katja. The movie ends with Katja saying twice “How long have I been looking for you” .

The actors of the film are the best I’ve ever seen. The way they act is something you rarely get to see nowdays. Especially Irina Muravyova’s performance stood out in a good way. Also the casting was well considered. The roles were like made to the actors.

There are no special effects in this movie and I personally think that it doesn’t even need any. It’s plot, great actors, beautiful music and sarcastic Russian humour do the trick all by themselves. I would recommend this movie to everyone who wants to see something different than usually.