They're Calling, Open the Door


They're Calling, Open the Door is a Soviet feature film of 1965 directed by Alexander Mitta, the debut of the twelve-year-old Elena Proklova in the cinema.
A fifth-grade student, Tanya, is in love with the pioneer leader Petya, who is teased by one of her classmates. Tanya's father is a geologist, and her mother left for a while to see her husband; Tanya lives alone under the supervision of a neighbor in a communal apartment. To please the pioneer leader, she takes part in the search for an interesting person, one of the first soviet pioneers.

Plot

Fifth-grader Tanya has a crush on her school's senior Pioneer leader, tenth-grader Petya. Her classmates tease her relentlessly for her feelings. Tanya's father, a geologist, is away on an expedition, and her mother has temporarily joined him, leaving Tanya under the care of a neighbor. Determined to impress Petya, Tanya immerses herself in school community activities and is assigned the task of finding an "interesting person"—one of the first pioneers.
During her search, Tanya meets her peer Genka and his eccentric stepfather Pavel Vasilyevich Kolpakov, who offers to help. Kolpakov introduces her to a renowned musician, Korkin, who agrees to attend the school event dedicated to the first pioneers but forgets as his concert tour approaches. Meanwhile, Tanya notices Petya holding a pair of skates and persuades Genka to teach her how to skate. During a trip to the rink, she sees Petya with a classmate, leaving her heartbroken. She retreats home, only to find her mother has unexpectedly returned.
When Korkin's absence at the event is revealed, Tanya sees it as poetic justice for Petya, whom she now views as disloyal. With the gathering approaching, she seeks out Kolpakov for advice, and he shares a moving story about a young bugler, a pioneer hero who lived next door to him and inspired his career as a professional musician. Tanya convinces Kolpakov to attend the event and share his story. However, when she asks Petya for permission to let Kolpakov speak, he refuses, adhering strictly to protocol. This final act of rigidity leads Tanya to lose faith in him entirely.
At the gathering, the bugler's performance falters, and Kolpakov steps in unexpectedly, captivating the audience with his tale of the young pioneer bugler who died during World War II. The emotional story leaves the students and Petya deeply moved, as the Pioneer leader hurriedly takes notes in his notebook. Kolpakov concludes by playing a stirring tune on his bugle, filling the hall with powerful, resonant sound and leaving an indelible impression on everyone present.

Cast

Awards