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Movie Info & Details
Release Year1978
Runtime1h 40m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresTV Movie, Drama
Votes1
DirectorDavid Lowell Rich
WritersBruce Feldman
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.0 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsThe Defection of Simas Kudirka
About The Defection of Simas Kudirka
Based on the true story of the attempted defection in 1970 by a Lithuanian seaman seeking political asylum in the United States. Kudirka was denied asylum and returned to the Soviets, charged with treason, and sentenced to ten years of hard labor. It was later discovered and verified that his mother had been born in Brooklyn and gone to Lithuania at a young age, which meant she was a U. S. citizen. As a result, Kudirka was declared a U. S. citizen and in 1974 released by the Soviets.
Directed by David Lowell Rich, The Defection of Simas Kudirka leans on a strong ensemble — Alan Arkin, Richard Jordan, Donald Pleasence — 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 tv movie titles of 1978.
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