Have seen Ballad of a soldier last month (The criterion edition) and besides a bit too much pathos, the film was a great experience. Totally different than cranes are flying because of its optimistic mood, it made me feel exactly what the director intended, that although we know from the first scenes, that the protagonist has died in the war, the movie shows us his greatness as a human being, and that his life was worth every second of it, even if it had only consisted of the days at leave. And the love story is one of the most beautiful ones I`ve seen on screen, and I`m a sucker for good romance. 
Russian cinema at the end of the 50s was really changing in a good direction.
I wonder how Chukhraj`s other films are, as I can`t get hold of them.
Any thoughts Mik?