The Waltz on the Petschora

The Waltz on the Petschora

1992 · 102 min · ★ 6.0 · Drama, History

Set in 1937 Stalinist Georgia, the film traces the parallel destinies of a mother, condemned by the government as "an enemy of the people" and exiled to a work camp in Siberia, and her daughter, who meanwhile is sent to an orphanage. Arriving at the overcrowded work camp, the mother and other women who are not considered strong enough to be labourers, must journey still farther, crossing the icy Siberian landscape in search of food and shelter. At the same time, the daughter escapes the orphanage and returns to her former home, where she finds that a KGB officer has taken up residence. He protects her and an uneasy rapport between them develops—one of abhorrence and attraction, need and suspicion.

Directed by Lana Goghoberidze · Written by Lana Goghoberidze

Your Rating

Cast

Make it a double feature

4h together

The Waltz on the Petschora

A Day Longer Than Night

Both from Lana Goghoberidze.

More from Lana GoghoberidzeSee all →

Full CircleFull Circle · 1986
Full Circle
9.01986
MovieDrama
Tbilisi, early 1980s. From the outside, everything seems calm, but behind this tranquillity there is turmoil. Manana, who used to be a movie star, is no longer remembered by any director. Her childhood friend Rusudan suffers from loneliness despite a successful scientific career. Manana's aunt, Matiko, mourns her late husband. Her daughter, 19-year-old Salome, and her friends are also facing life's difficulties. Through strange coincidences, the lives of the film's characters become intertwined...
A Letter to the ChildrenA Letter to the Children · 1981
A Letter to the Children
9.01981
MovieDocumentary
TV documentary about architect Lado Aleksi-Meskhishvili, who was also a downhill skiing and boxing champion of Georgia, directed by his widow.
GelatiGelati · 1958
Gelati
7.51958
MovieDocumentary
Lana Gogoberidze's thesis film about Gelati Monastery, a medieval monastic complex near Kutaisi in the Imereti region of western Georgia.
Mother and Daughter, or the Night Is Never CompleteMother and Daughter, or the Night Is Never Complete · 2023
Mother and Daughter, or the Night Is Never Complete
7.02023
MovieDocumentary
Greatness paired with modesty: 93 years old and a daughter, world-famous director Lana remembers her mother Nutsa, Georgia’s first female filmmaker. A cinema legacy that revolves around being human in dark times: feminist, loving, critical of violence.
Golden ThreadGolden Thread · 2019
Golden Thread
7.02019
MovieDrama
Elene is an 80-year-old writer who lives with her family, forced to stay home due to health conditions. Her comfort is cracked when her daughter's mother-in-law, Miranda, a former Soviet official, moves into the apartment, and Elene receives an unexpected call from an old love interest, Archil.
Conquerors of the PeaksConquerors of the Peaks · 1952
Conquerors of the Peaks
7.01952
MovieAdventure
Famous mountaineers Simon and Alexandra Lomidze were tragically caught in an avalanche while climbing Tetnuldi. The avalanche swept Simon and his friend into the abyss, leaving Simon’s younger brother, Alyosha, deeply inspired by the diary entries of his deceased brother. Alyosha, who had never been particularly fond of mountaineering, was determined to conquer Tetnuldi in his brother’s memory. This inspired a series of expeditions to conquer other peaks, including Ushba, Shkheldi, and many more. The following mountaineers participated in these expeditions: M. Anuprikov, I. Arkin, G. Akhvlediani, G. Gulbani, G. Deberli, P. Khazarov, I. Lapshenikov, I. Nemsitsveridze, V. Mukhin, and G. Khutsishvili.
Under One SkyUnder One Sky · 1961
Under One Sky
6.81961
MovieDramaRomance
A three-part feature film by Georgian director Lana Ghoghoberidze, dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Soviet Union. The film is based on Leo Qiacheli's short story "Princess Maya" and Archil Sulakauri's novels "Doves" and "Fresco". These three stories are separated by a 20-20 year interval (1921, 1941, 1961).
CommotionCommotion · 1975
Commotion
6.81975
MovieMusicComedy
A cult of diners, restaurants and an excessive eating prevails in the City of Joy. Different contests are held in cooking the Georgian cuisine. Makro, a famous singer, decides to lend some spirituality to the city of gluttons. For that purpose she decides to set up a gallery of beautiful paintings in one of the city’s restaurants. The owners of the restaurant oppose that decision, but due to Makro’s agility the tenants of the city carry the paintings to the new museum.
I See the SunI See the Sun · 1965
I See the Sun
6.21965
MovieDramaRomance
In Georgia during WWII Zurikela, an orphan boy, meets Khatia, a blind girl, and vows to help her to see again.
A Day Longer Than NightA Day Longer Than Night · 1983
A Day Longer Than Night
6.01983
MovieDramaRomance
This somber story of love lost forever is set against the backdrop of the changes that Communism brought to the state of Georgia in the former USSR after the 1917 Revolution. Eva and Archil are deeply in love and they pledge to be with each other always. After they marry, Archil dies suddenly and Eva is left alone and childless. Along comes the ruthless Spiridon who romances Eva and marries her - though his cold and cruel spirit break Eva's naturally buoyant self, until she sullenly eats alone, and avoids intimacy with her husband as much as possible. They adopt a daughter, who does not take sides between her glum mother and silent father. When the Communist cadres enter their village to promote the ideals of the October revolution, Eva starts to warm to her husband a little because he joins in that movement. Then her husband commits the fatal error of revealing a previous crime - an error that will later cause their grown daughter to question her parents' strange behavior.
TransfigurationTransfiguration · 1968
Transfiguration
6.01968
MovieDrama
A theater director with a normal middle-class life in Tbilisi becomes increasingly disturbed after witnessing a murder, obsessing about whether he could have done anything to prevent it.
I Am an Ox, I Am a Horse, I Am a Man, I Am a WomanI Am an Ox, I Am a Horse, I Am a Man, I Am a Woman · 1988
I Am an Ox, I Am a Horse, I Am a Man, I Am a Woman
6.01988
MovieDocumentary
This glasnost-era documentary, which incorporates footage from films from the 1920s through the 1980s, looks at the history of women in Russian cinema through the eyes of Russian women directors, actors, and scriptwriters. The film’s title refers to a WWII slogan about women doing the work of absent men in the fields and at home. Featuring Kira Muratova, Natalia Ryazantseva, Inna Churikova, Nonna Mordyukova, and others.
When Almonds BlossomedWhen Almonds Blossomed · 1973
When Almonds Blossomed
5.91973
MovieRomanceDrama
Zura, a son of a rich businessman, steals a car of his father’s friend to amuse his classmates. When informed about it, the school principal discards him from the bike tournament. Nevertheless, Zura’s father manages to persuade her to allow his son to participate and even succeeds in bribing his championship. Zura’s classmates know that he became a champion undeservedly but can’t do anything about it. Only Khatuna, his alleged girlfriend, and Lexo, Zura’s friend, dare to protest against it. Their lack of loyalty enrages Zura and in the rush of the blood he crashes his father’s car. The accident takes Laxo’s life. Zura’s father does his best to save his son from deserved punishment but the first one against his decision is Zura himself.
Some Interviews on Personal MattersSome Interviews on Personal Matters · 1978
Some Interviews on Personal Matters
5.11978
MovieDramaRomance
Sophiko, a well-known journalist, seems to be more close to many of her respondents when they need her advice than to her family members. All engrossed in her work, she suddenly finds out that she is losing her husband who has started a love affair with another woman. Of course, it strikes her badly but life never lets her to concentrate on her personal problems.
VGIK: Teachers and Students Talk About the ProfessionVGIK: Teachers and Students Talk About the Profession · 1979
VGIK: Teachers and Students Talk About the Profession
1979
MovieDocumentary
The story of VGIK teachers and students about the acting profession.
FelicitàFelicità · 2026
Felicità
2026
MovieComedyDrama
Tamara looks after and old woman, Paola, and sends money to her husband and three kids. Suddenly her husband, Valiko dies in an accident. As an illegal immigrant, Tamara can not go to mourn him and decides to do it by cell phone.

More Like This

The Silent TwinsThe Silent Twins · 2022
The Silent Twins
6.42022
MovieDrama
June and Jennifer Gibbons are twins from the only Black family in a small town in Wales in the 1970s and '80s. Feeling isolated from the community, the pair turn inward and reject communication with everyone but each other, retreating into their own fantasy world of inspiration and adolescent desires. After a spree of vandalism, the girls are sentenced to Broadmoor, an infamous psychiatric hospital, where they face the choice to separate and survive or die together.
Bend It Like BeckhamBend It Like Beckham · 2002
Bend It Like Beckham
6.32002
MovieComedyDrama
Jess Bhamra, the daughter of a strict Indian couple in London, is not permitted to play organized soccer, even though she is 18. When Jess is playing for fun one day, her impressive skills are seen by Jules Paxton, who then convinces Jess to play for her semi-pro team. Jess uses elaborate excuses to hide her matches from her family while also dealing with her romantic feelings for her coach, Joe.
MonsterMonster · 2003
Monster
7.22003
MovieCrimeDrama
In 1989, prostitute Aileen Wuornos befriends and enters a relationship with a young woman named Selby. Determined to straighten out her life, Aileen's limited education lands her back on the corner. She's raped by a trick, who she kills. A string of murder and robbery follows that ultimately leads Aileen to becoming America's first female serial killer.
Zero MotivationZero Motivation · 2014
Zero Motivation
6.42014
MovieDramaComedy
Filmmaker Talya Lavie steps into the spotlight with a dark comedy about everyday life for a unit of young female Israeli soldiers. The human resources office at a remote desert base serves as the setting for this cast of characters, who bide their time pushing paper, battling for the top score in Minesweeper, and counting down the minutes until they can return to civilian life. Amidst their boredom and clashing personalities, issues of commitment—from friendship to love and country—are handled with humor and sharp-edged wit.
Miss MeadowsMiss Meadows · 2014
Miss Meadows
5.92014
MovieDrama
Miss Meadows is a school teacher with impeccable manners and grace. However, underneath the candy-sweet exterior hides a ruthless gun-toting vigilante who takes it upon herself to right the wrongs in the world by whatever means necessary. For Miss Meadows, bad behavior is simply unforgivable.
Open HeartsOpen Hearts · 2002
Open Hearts
7.12002
MovieDramaRomance
Cecilie and Joachim are about to get married when a freak car accident leaves Joachim disabled, throwing their lives into a spin. The driver of the other car, Marie, and her family don’t get off lightly, either. Her husband Niels works in the hospital where he meets Cecilie and falls madly in love with her.
Desert HeartsDesert Hearts · 1985
Desert Hearts
7.11985
MovieDramaRomance
While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed literature professor finds herself unexpectedly attracted by a carefree, spirited young woman named Cay.
Grbavica: The Land of My DreamsGrbavica: The Land of My Dreams · 2006
Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams
6.92006
MovieDramaHistory
A woman and her daughter struggle to make their way through the aftermath of the Balkan war.
Boys Don't CryBoys Don't Cry · 1999
Boys Don't Cry
7.41999
MovieCrimeDrama
A young transgender man explores his gender identity and searches for love in rural Nebraska.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter