The Girls

In a remote northern forest village, Tosya Kislitsyna arrives freshly minted from a culinary technical school ready to stir things up with her big appetite for life. She's earnest, a touch scatterbrained, and determined to mend everyone's small problems, even when her ideas backfire in charming ways. On her first day she meets Ilya, the village's self-important heartthrob, who greets her with gruff skepticism and a dash of humor. To soften the sting of that encounter Tosya invites him to a dance, hoping to break the ice, only to be turned down. Refusing to be discouraged, Ilya bets that within a week he'll fall for Tosya, setting the town giggling at the clashing of city optimism and rural routine.

Directed by Yuri Chulyukin, this 1962 Soviet comedy romance spotlights a spirited ensemble and tight dialogue. The screenplay credits go to Boris Bedny, Mikhail Matusovsky and Marianna Rooz, crafting an original tale that blends humor with tender village life.

Box office data from this era is not readily available, but the film circulated widely in the Soviet Union and remains a representative example of Chulyukin's early commercial comedies. Its popularity endures in nostalgic viewings and festival retrospectives, and the light entertainment found a loyal domestic audience.

There are no widely documented major awards for this title, and it is not known for international nominations. While not widely cited in global film award histories, the film holds a place in Soviet era cinema for the performances of Rumyantseva and Rybnikov and its breezy humor that defined early 60s cinema.

Critics at the time noted its gentle tone and light humor of village life, praising the warmth of Tosya's intentions and the way the town softens around her. The film pairs romantic anticipation with comic mischief, showing how a good heart can quietly reshape a community and earn affection from audiences.