Once More About Love


Once More About Love is a 1968 Soviet romantic drama film directed by Georgy Natanson.
The film tells the story of a flight attendant's love for a brilliant but aloof physicist which transforms both their lives, but just as he realizes the depth of his feelings, her heroic sacrifice leaves him to face the world without her.

Plot

Flight attendant Natasha first notices physicist Evdokimov during a lecture at the Polytechnic Museum, where she is accompanied by her longtime friend Felix. She is captivated by the confident young speaker, but her relationship with Felix soon falters. Later, while at a café before another flight, she unexpectedly encounters Evdokimov again, and they strike up a conversation. Evdokimov, an intellectual used to admiration and somewhat arrogant, is both intrigued and charmed by Natasha's presence. "You are the best girl in the USSR," he declares playfully, realizing her interest in him.
After their second meeting, they spend the night together, during which Natasha confesses her love for him. Evdokimov reacts with cold detachment, failing to grasp the sincerity and vulnerability behind her words. The next morning, he casually arranges another meeting, only to find a note after her departure: "We won’t meet again." However, both of them show up later that day at the agreed location, marking the start of a complicated romance. Despite their differences in temperament and interests, Natasha's deep affection for Evdokimov prevails, and over time, he discovers his own growing feelings for her. As his scientific experiment approaches its most dangerous phase, Evdokimov departs on a work trip while Natasha continues her usual flight routes. When Evdokimov achieves a groundbreaking discovery, he eagerly anticipates sharing the news with Natasha. For the first time, he brings flowers to their meeting, only to learn that Natasha has died heroically in a plane fire while saving passengers.

Cast

Reaction

Natanson's film takes 135th place in the list of the highest grossing Soviet films with 36.7 million viewers.

Critical response

Film critic Vsevolod Revich noted in his review:
This is a film about people who can and are able to deeply and strongly experience, and therefore, about happy people: despite the fact that there are tears, an unrequited feeling, and tragedy in it.