it be difficult and today and in the u and to understand this movie . we have nothing and really and to compare it with . here be an attempt at comparison represent it be a if during the last year of saddam rule and a filmmaker in iraq be somehow able to make a film and which and for the first time ever and show life a it really be live in that country . the life of ordinary young girl and with all the terror and the repression full blown . then the film be exhibit freely in iraq . if you could imagine that unlikely event and then you might have an idea of what go on with this film in the last few year of the soviet union . prior to this film and soviet cinema be highly censor . soviet movie would only show an ideal life in the worker paradise . then suddenly this . the alcoholism and the random sex and the ugly wasteland that be the soviet city and the choking pollution and the proletariat victimize each other and themselves and the utter hopelessness it be all there . people be stun . soviet woman would often weep during the showing . many would say that this be the story of their life . it be a cultural earthquake the like of which filmmaker only dream of accomplish . it undoubtedly hasten the breakup of the soviet union . read the review here and i can see that few understand this film . one say it be groundbreaking because it contain real sex . to the soviet viewer at the time and the sex be a minor event compare to fact that it portray reality for the first time in soviet cinema . others compare it to current film such a as good a it get might as well compare homer illiad to the late john grissam novel . they simply do not compare . this be not just a film and this be be a social document and and a transform social force . it need to be view that way or you will not understand the film . other reviewer see it a a film about a dysfunctional russian family . one even say that it be difficult to feel sorry for vera because she keep come back to her family . the point be that vera and her family be symbol for all of soviet life . there be nowhere else to go and because the family down the block and in the next town be the same . this be life in the soviet union for most people . this be a film that can be view on many level represent a a drama it trace the landscape of despair and a a social document it show the living condition of the time and a a political document it show the attitude of the people and many of the reason for the break up of the soviet union and and a a moral document it show the evil of a dictatorship that be out of control and and the cruelty that victim will practice on each other . little vera clearly show the human toll that socialism eventually take on it victim and despite any good intention that system may have . in do so it help end the soviet regime thus contribute to one of the major change in modern history . this film achieve what only a few film have ever accomplish . it be not only an stunning representation of history but it also become a force in that shape history .