Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears

A 1980 Soviet melodrama directed by Vladimir Menshov. The film tells the story of three young women from the provinces—Katerina (Vera Alentova), Lyudmila (Irina Muravyova), and Antonina (Raisa Ryazanova)—who arrive in Moscow in 1958 seeking happiness and a better life. Katerina, determined and reserved, works at a factory and dreams of entering university. Lyudmila, cheerful and confident, aims to marry a wealthy Muscovite, seeing it as a path to success. Antonina, modest and simple, works as a painter at a construction site and dreams of family happiness. The friends' fates unfold differently: Katerina, persuaded by Lyudmila, pretends to be a professor's daughter and meets television operator Rudolf (Yuri Vasilyev), from whom she becomes pregnant. Upon learning the truth, Rudolf leaves her, and Katerina decides to raise her daughter Alexandra (Natalya Vavilova) alone, balancing work, studies, and motherhood. Lyudmila marries hockey player Sergei Gurin (Alexander Fatyushin), but their marriage falls apart due to his alcoholism. Antonina is happily married to Nikolai (Boris Smorchkov), and they have three sons. Twenty years later, Katerina becomes a successful director of a large enterprise, but her personal life remains unsettled. She meets the intelligent and charming mechanic Gosha (Alexei Batalov), who, upon discovering her high position, feels undermined and leaves. Thanks to the efforts of friends, Gosha returns, and Katerina finds long-awaited happiness. The film explores themes of friendship, love, career, and personal happiness against the backdrop of a changing Moscow, showing how the characters overcome difficulties and find their place in life.