What a wonderful film, surprisingly not very commented, one of the best Soviet films ever in my opinion. Released just ten years before the dissolution of USSR, it brings a subtle critic to the harshness and lack of empathy of Soviet laws. Though, that was not the main issue. Directed by a woman, Iskra Babich (who directed only four feature films in her whole career, and one single short film before them!), it tells a very moving and deep story about a man who believed cheated by his fianceé and became long years far from his parents, eventually facing the challenge of deciding to raise or not the children of his already dead former upcoming bride, including not only his own daughter with hers, but also her son with another guy and her adopted son with a speaking problem. The film is very well written (great dialogues), acted (the entire casting, including the children, do a great job), shot (beautiful cinematography) and directed. The way the dog appears is particularly brilliant, contrasting the care with the children and the furious bark towards the strange man who had been absent for so much time. The dog's animosity would reappear several times, but that contrast was particularly remarkable in the awesome opening scenes. This is a movie to watch and recommend to eveybody, and to remember forever.
