The Return of Vasili Bortnikov (Возвращение Василия Бортникова) 71 years old

Originally titled Vozvrachenia Vassilya Bortnikov, Vassili's Return was the last directorial effort by the great V.I. Pudovkin, who died in June of 1953. Like many of Pudovkin's later works, the film was diluted by interference from communist party officials; what remains, however, is well worth having, if miles removed from the brilliance of his earlier Mother, End of St. Petersburg and Storm over Asia. Based on a novel by G. Nikolayeva, the story centers upon a Russian named Vassili (Serge Lukynaov), who leaves his wife to do battle against the Germans in WW II. When Vassili is reported to have been killed in battle, his wife Avodtya (Natalya Medvedeva) marries another man. Per the film's title, Vassili returns, only to find his wife ostensibly out of his reach. Vassili and his former spouse eventually reunite as friends if not lovers, working side by side on a state-approved collective farm.

Credits

The Return of Vasili Bortnikov Cast

Name	Character
Inna Makarova She was 24, now 96 years old	as Frosya
Nikolai Timofeyev He was 31, 77 years old when he died	as Stephan
Sergei Lukyanov He was 42, 54 years old when he died	as Vasili Bortnikov

The Return of Vasili Bortnikov Crew

Name	Department
Sergei Urusevsky as Cinematography.	Crew
Yevgeni Gabrilovich as Screenplay. He was 53 (94) years old when He died	Writing
Vsevolod Pudovkin as Director. He was 60 (60) years old when He died	Directing