Romance of a Horsethief
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40% Critic Match

Romance of a Horsethief

The Excitement and Romance of Old Russia!

4.0 / 10 1971 1h 41mNR French
AdventureDrama

Storyline

Since time immemorial, the simple-minded boisterous people of Malava, a small Polish town near the border of imperial Russia, have lived on horse-stealing, horse-trading and horse-smuggling. Life changes abruptly when a Russian garrison, commanded by Captain Stoloff, occupies the town and, in the name of the Czar, requisitions all the horses for the Russian-Japanese War. With no more horses to steal, Kifke cannot afford to marry Estusha and all the young men in the village are likely to be incorporated into the Russian army. This state of affairs cannot continue and Zavill will take care of things.

Cast & Crew

Yul Brynner

Yul Brynner

Captain Stoloff

Lead
Eli Wallach

Eli Wallach

Kifke

Jane Birkin

Jane Birkin

Naomi

Lainie Kazan

Lainie Kazan

Estusha

David Opatoshu

David Opatoshu

Schloime Kradnik

Serge Gainsbourg

Serge Gainsbourg

Sigmund

Henri Serre

Henri Serre

Mendel (as Henri Sera)

Linda Veras

Linda Veras

Countess Grabowsky

What People Are Saying

2.0
A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Abraham Polonsky's vision lands with breathtaking precision.
Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
3.0
Every frame feels alive. Romance of a Horsethief is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker