The First Lad (1959): cast, story & where to watch
1959 · Film · ★ 5
Released in 1959, The First Lad is a comedy and romance film directed by Sergei Parajanov, running about 81 minutes.
What it’s about. A gem from Paradjanov's early oeuvre is a musical agitation film or a romantic comedy, made by the young director under the guidance of Alexander Dovzhenko and set in the immense fields of the collectivised Ukraine. The social realism is replaced by colourful, convivial and dancing shots of the “Pabieda” (Victory) kolkhoz, where peasant women sing in the fields, and boys march with banners glorifying revolution. Against this backdrop, intense romantic feelings have reached a climactic stage; tailor Sidor Sidorovich, farmer Jushka and soldier Danila Petrovich all dote on the fair-haired Odarka. It is Jushka and Danila who engage in overt hostility; the initial “gentlemen’s” contest turns into an outright confrontation, resulting in miserable Jushka being increasingly more desperate and scorned by the villagers.
Who’s in it. The First Lad stars Lyudmyla Sosyura, Yuri Satarov, Grigori Karpov and Varvara Chayka, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, The First Lad has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The First Lad page.
If you liked it. Fans of The First Lad tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The First Lad (1959)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The First Lad change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The First Lad worth watching?
- The First Lad holds an audience score of 5.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The First Lad?
- The First Lad stars Lyudmyla Sosyura, Yuri Satarov, Grigori Karpov, Varvara Chayka and Nikolay Shutko.
- When was The First Lad released?
- The First Lad was released in 1959, with a runtime of about 81 minutes.