while boris ( aleksey batalov ) be off to fight in war against the german for his mother russia and his beloved veronika ( tatyana samojlova ) marry his connive cousin mark ( aleksandr shvorin ) in a moment of weakness shortly after her parent be kill in an air raid over moscow . through various trial and betrayal and veronika will await word or letter from boris no matter how long it take and hold hope that he will return to her . powerful piece of film make boast simply incredible photographic work by cinematographer sergei urusevsky . some of the many magnificently frame and move shot include the scene where the camera follow veronika through a crowd of loved one say goodbye to each other a she rush through the mob of body to say goodbye to boris . and doesn not quite reach him even a we watch boris look impatiently into the swarm without luck . the sequence after the air raid where veronika walk up the stand stair circulate up the destroyed building she once call home and the scene where mark make his lustful move on veronika a another air raid continue just outside the building a wind rustle the curtain and flash of light emanate inside be just two of many example where sergei urusevsky show his genius at frame image that will last forever on film . but and without the power and tragedy of the story regard how war can forever shape the destiny of a couple who dearly and deeply love each other and this film couldn not hold up with the beauty of the visual alone . together and however and be leave with an amazing film . simply a haunt masterpiece from the soviet union after stalin breathe his last breath . i feel honor just have behold such a great film .