What Happens at the End of Autumn Marathon?

Andrey Pavlovich Buzykin, who makes a living by teaching at an institute and translating English literature, is cheating on his wife. Buzykin's main problem is that he's a kind man with a weak character. The lies he is telling his wife all the time are inconvincing, but he never has the courage to tell her the truth. His lover, Alla, is aware of his family life, but gets offended when, for example, he cannot meet her so that he doesn't come home late, or when he doesn't want to go home in a new jacket she gives him to avoid having to explain to his wife. Alla and Nina, Andrei's wife, both leave him, forgive him, and return to him at the same time, and Andrei continues with this kind of life, full of suffering and deceit. Finally, both women are so fed up with his lies that they don't believe him even when he is telling the truth...

Georgiy Daneliya's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Oleg Basilashvili (Андрей Бузыкин)'s journey. Buzykin's main problem is that he's a kind man with a weak character.

How Does Oleg Basilashvili (Андрей Бузыкин)'s Story End?

• Oleg Basilashvili: Oleg Basilashvili's arc reaches a definitive conclusion by the final act, with Georgiy Daneliya delivering a resolution that feels earned after the film's 1h 29m runtime.
• Natalya Gundareva (Нина Евлампиевна Бузыкина): Natalya Gundareva's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Marina Neyolova (Алла): Marina Neyolova's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Autumn Marathon Mean?

The ending of Autumn Marathon ties together the narrative threads involving Oleg Basilashvili. Georgiy Daneliya chooses a conclusion that prioritizes thematic consistency over surprise, resulting in an ending that rewards viewers who engaged with the story's central themes.