Three Poplars on Plyuschikha Street

Three Poplars at Plyushchikha is a legendary Soviet melodrama about a simple village woman who, once in Moscow, changes her worldview and life.

Nyura lives in a Ryazan village three hundred kilometers from the capital. She’s mostly alone in her farm with her two children, as her husband, Gregory, disappears for months on a river barge for work. Meanwhile, when he is home, he is sullen and cold.

One day, Nyura leaves for Moscow with a large suitcase of ham for sale and gifts for her daughter-in-law. In the big city, she gets acquainted with a an intelligent and educated taxi driver, Sasha.

Nyura spends almost all day with Sasha in his car. They ride around Moscow, talk about different things, and share their innermost feelings with each other. Then, Nyura surprises herself by responding to Sasha’s courtship.

And so, you could say that this movie is sending the message to women that it’s ok to want and get what makes you happy, even if it means going against the traditional confines of marriage.

• 1960s
• English subtitles
• Soviet Union