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Crime drama

The Cold Summer of 1953 (1988): Cast & Plot

The Cold Summer of 1953 (1988) movie poster

The Cold Summer of 1953 is a 1988 crime drama directed by Aleksandr Proshkin, starring Yuriy Kuznetsov as Ivan Zotov, director of trading post, Valeriy Priyomykhov and Anatoliy Papanov. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes.

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The Cold Summer of 1953 (1988) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 41m (101 min)
Genres
Crime , Drama , Action
Original language
Russian
Studio
Mosfilm
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Cold Summer of 1953 About?

The premise of The Cold Summer of 1953 without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In the summer of 1953, the year Stalin died, the Soviet authorities freed numerous prisoners from the Gulag, many of whom were hardened criminals. A remote village is suddenly besieged by these violent ex‑inmates, while the locals, aided by two political prisoners, rally to defend their home. The desperate struggle reveals the harsh realities of post‑Stalin Russia.

The Cold Summer of 1953 Themes & Keywords

· 49 tags
  • political exile
  • year 1953
  • russia
  • lavrentiy beria
  • beria
  • amnesty
  • attempted rape
  • bandit gang
  • gang of bandit
  • death of stalin
  • soviet history
  • bandit
+37 more
  • 1950s
  • soviet union
  • criminal
  • prisoner
  • village
  • political prisoner
  • knife
  • cold weather
  • ex convict
  • uniform
  • season in title
  • firearm
  • violence
  • terrorist
  • terrorism
  • siberia
  • shooting
  • shootout
  • ruthlessness
  • revenge
  • reference to joseph stalin
  • poverty
  • politics
  • moscow russia
  • mercilessness
  • handicapped woman
  • gun
  • guerilla warfare
  • gang
  • gangster
  • exile
  • ex soldier
  • death
  • cruelty
  • boat
  • boatman
  • archaeologist
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Cast & crew

The Cold Summer of 1953 Cast & Characters

Yuriy Kuznetsov leads the cast as Ivan Zotov, director of trading post, with Valeriy Priyomykhov as «Luzga», Sergey Basargin, former military intelligence captain and Anatoliy Papanov as «Kopalych», Nikolai Pavlovich Starobogatov, former engineer. Directed by Aleksandr Proshkin; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Cold Summer of 1953

· 16 more
From the director

More from Aleksandr Proshkin

More films directed by Aleksandr Proshkin: Live and Remember, Russian Riot and A Dangerous Age.

Full filmography
Plot

The Cold Summer of 1953 Plot Summary

What happens in The Cold Summer of 1953 from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the wake of Beria’s Amnesty of 1953, a large wave of criminals was released and pardoned, and the newly freed quickly formed gangs that spread robberies, murders, and rapes across the country. The atmosphere across the USSR grew tense as towns and villages alike faced the unsettling reality that crime could walk right back into ordinary life. Against this backdrop, two men forged a stubborn bond: Luzga Valeriy Priyomykhov, a hardened former Military Intelligence Captain, and Kopalych Anatoliy Papanov, once a Chief Engineer. Both were exiled after being wrongfully accused of crimes by Stalin’s regime, and their friendship becomes a quiet anchor in a world that has lost its sense of fairness and order.

Full summary

The whole story of The Cold Summer of 1953, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Cold Summer of 1953?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which character is a former Military Intelligence Captain?

Details

The Cold Summer of 1953 Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “Kholodnoe Leto Pyatdesyat Tretego” and “Холодное лето пятьдесят третьего...”.

Also known as
  • Kholodnoe Leto Pyatdesyat Tretego
  • Холодное лето пятьдесят третьего...
  • Холодное лето пятьдесят третьего…
  • 53 hideg nyara
  • El frío verano del 53
  • Chladné léto roku 1953
  • Der kalte Sommer des Jahres 53...
  • Студеното лято на 53-та
  • Холодне літо п’ятдесят третього…
  • 1953年,寒冷的夏天

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FAQ

The Cold Summer of 1953 FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Cold Summer of 1953, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Cold Summer of 1953?

The Cold Summer of 1953 runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).

When was The Cold Summer of 1953 released?

The Cold Summer of 1953 was released on December 3, 1988.

Who directed The Cold Summer of 1953?

The Cold Summer of 1953 was directed by Aleksandr Proshkin.

More films by Aleksandr Proshkin

Who is in the cast of The Cold Summer of 1953?

The Cold Summer of 1953 stars Yuriy Kuznetsov as Ivan Zotov, director of trading post, Valeriy Priyomykhov as «Luzga», Sergey Basargin, former military intelligence captain and Anatoliy Papanov as «Kopalych», Nikolai Pavlovich Starobogatov, former engineer, among 20 credited actors.

Does The Cold Summer of 1953 have a post-credit scene?

No. The Cold Summer of 1953 has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is The Cold Summer of 1953 in?

The original language of The Cold Summer of 1953 is Russian.

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