Is Smoke of the Fatherland Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1980)

📖 The Core Premise

Smoke of the Fatherland stands as a 1980 entry that attempts to leave its mark on the History landscape. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "The Great Russian scientist, famous politician and poet M.Lomonosov is severely ill. Understanding that there is not much time left for him to live, he decides to visit his beloved small native town. Taking a coach, he heads for the motherland of his ancestors. A shaky road raises thoughts and reminiscences about his days of youth, about the time when he was young and unknown, how he made first steps on his long way of the truth comprehension. He recollects early death and funeral of his mother, the repeated, and not very successful marriage of his father, hatred of stepmother, care of godfather, who gave him the books of Peter the Great, wandering monk, who taught him the fundamentals of science, Latin, and, of course, his first love."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In Smoke of the Fatherland, Mikhail Zimin delivers a serviceable performance that keeps the narrative moving. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good History. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Smoke of the Fatherland worth your time? If you appreciate History films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Smoke of the Fatherland is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 91 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.