Pursuit Race

A life of a driver Stephan Chekmenev turns out to be very lucky: healthy children, loving wife, solid loghouse. But once his fellow-villager perishes in a forest. And Chekmenev, considering himself to be the one to blame, in expectation of an imminent retribution, tries to understand: why and when did he, once having so many friends, become so indifferent towards other peoples lives.

Directed by Olgerd Vorontsov, Pursuit Race leans on a strong ensemble — Mikhail Golubovich, Lyudmila Chursina, Lyubov Virolainen — 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 crime titles of 1979.