The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

In a small house that used to be a vegetable shop, there is a mother with two daughters and an old, sick woman in her care. The mother's life has not been easy. At her father's request, she married someone she did not love.

Directed by Georgi Tovstonogov, Pyotr Zhuravlyov, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds leans on a strong ensemble — Valentina Kovel, Tatyana Bedova, Olga Volkova — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1979.