The Retired Colonel

Korney Korneevich Polunin is a career military officer, a retired colonel. His wife died when his son was one and a half years old, Alexey had already grown up, became independent, and they rarely see each other. Unable to stay at home, Polunin goes to the factory as a locksmith - in his old specialty. Friends perceive this as an oddity, and they look at him warily at work. But a group of teenagers comes to the plant's personnel department, and Polunin undertakes to lead this team, instilling in it respect for work and awareness of his need to achieve the final result of work.

Directed by Igor Sheshukov, The Retired Colonel leans on a strong ensemble — Mykola Hrynko, Oleg Yankovskiy, Vladimir Zeldin — 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 1977.