Sergei Urusevsky

Camera

Sergei Urusevsky

Born December 10, 1908 · Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire

Died October 12, 1974 · aged 65

Sergei Urusevsky (23 December 1908 - 12 November 1974) was a Soviet cinematographer and film director, renowned for his work with Grigoriy Chukhray, Mikhail Kalatozov and Yuli Raizman. His subjective camera style in I Am Cuba and The Cranes Are Flying is regarded as one of the best of all time, winning him several awards throughout his career. Urusevsky's work draws influence from Eduard Tisse, t…

Known For

The Cranes Are FlyingThe Cranes Are Flying · 1957
The Cranes Are Flying
7.91957
MovieDramaRomance
Veronika and Boris come together in Moscow shortly before World War II. Walking along the river, they watch cranes fly overhead, and promise to rendezvous before Boris leaves to fight. Boris misses the meeting and is off to the front lines, while Veronika waits patiently, sending letters faithfully. After her house is bombed, Veronika moves in with Boris' family, into the company of a cousin with his own intentions.
Letter Never SentLetter Never Sent · 1960
Letter Never Sent
7.21960
MovieDramaAdventure
Four geologists are searching for diamonds in the wilderness of Siberia. After a long and tiresome journey they manage to find their luck and put the diamond mine on the map. The map must be delivered back to Moscow. But on the day of their departure a terrible forest fire wreaks havoc, and the geologists get trapped in the woods.
I Am CubaI Am Cuba · 1964
I Am Cuba
7.91964
MovieDrama
A study in contrasts set in and around Havana that explores Cuba's 1959 revolution: a young woman's fascination with the excess of an American-owned casino leads to her downfall in the eyes of her street vendor boyfriend; a tenant farmer revolts the only way he knows how, attacking the land he works; university students gain first-hand knowledge of political upheaval; and, in the hills outside the city, the members of a poor peasant family are patriotically swept up into the burgeoning revolt.
The Lesson of LifeThe Lesson of Life · 1955
The Lesson of Life
6.41955
MovieDrama
On falling in love with Sergey, Natasha gives up studies at a pedagogical institute and accompanies him to a construction site. In a course of time she realizes that her husband is interested only in his work. She leaves him, graduates from the institute and works as a teacher. But Sergey is fired for authoritative style of work and Natasha realizes that she must be near to him in his hour of need.
Dream of a CossackDream of a Cossack · 1951
Dream of a Cossack
5.61951
MovieRomanceDrama
Soviet filmmaker Yuri Raisman once more combines political dogma with solid entertainment values in Dream of a Cossack (aka Cavalier of the Golden Star). The title character, played by future director Sergei Bondarchuk (and billed for obscure reasons as Semyon Bondarchuk), is an ex-soldier who returns home to the Kuban region, there to take up life as a farmer. Instead, he galvanizes the local citizenry into participating in a massive construction project, which will result in a new power station and canal. Thus does Raisman offer an prime example of Russian collectivism while making it seem as though it had sprung from individual initiative. Dream of a Cossack is based on a popular novel by S. Babayefsky.
The Forty-FirstThe Forty-First · 1956
The Forty-First
6.91956
MovieDramaRomance
An unexpected romance occurs for a female Red Army sniper and a White Army officer.
Goodbye, Gyulsary!Goodbye, Gyulsary! · 1969
Goodbye, Gyulsary!
6.61969
MovieDrama
The story of Tanabai the blacksmith, father of three children, who upon his return from war became a herdsman, and his tragic love for the soldier’s widow Byubyudzhan. The lyrical poem has an additional storyline concerning the horse Gyulsary and his master Tanabai.
The Return of Vasili BortnikovThe Return of Vasili Bortnikov · 1953
The Return of Vasili Bortnikov
5.01953
MovieDrama
A veteran of World War II returns to civil life and the collective farm he once led, only to find his wife has re-married.

Filmography

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Dream of a CossackDream of a Cossack · 1951
Dream of a Cossack
5.61951
MovieRomanceDrama
Soviet filmmaker Yuri Raisman once more combines political dogma with solid entertainment values in Dream of a Cossack (aka Cavalier of the Golden Star). The title character, played by future director Sergei Bondarchuk (and billed for obscure reasons as Semyon Bondarchuk), is an ex-soldier who returns home to the Kuban region, there to take up life as a farmer. Instead, he galvanizes the local citizenry into participating in a massive construction project, which will result in a new power station and canal. Thus does Raisman offer an prime example of Russian collectivism while making it seem as though it had sprung from individual initiative. Dream of a Cossack is based on a popular novel by S. Babayefsky.

Director of Photography

The Disappearance of "Eagle"The Disappearance of "Eagle" · 1941
The Disappearance of "Eagle"
9.01941
MovieAdventure
In the fall of 1920, when the Red Army fought on the outskirts of Novorossiysk, one of the best ships of the Russian fleet “Oryol” stood at the berths of the port. The ship's boatswain, the hiding communist Mikhail Gruzdev, convinced Captain Chistyakov to keep the Eagle and return it to the red flag. Soon the legendary ship aboard the White Guards pursued by the Red Army left Novorossiysk. History left no trace of the further fate of the "Eagle" and its crew. It was believed that Chistyakov handed over the ship to the White Guards, and they took him abroad. Many years later, the captain of the ship “Flounder” Mikhail Gruzdev, confident in Chistyakov’s uncompromising attitude, obtained permission - and set about searching for the missing ship.

Camera Operator