Soviet tragicomedy in cinema in the context of the epoch (by the example of L. Gaidai’s films of the 1960s – early 70s)

Abstract

The paper considers the genre of tragicomedy in the Soviet cinema of the 1960s – early 70s (using the example of Leonid Gaidai’s films). The paper analyses the vivid representatives of hidden tragicomedy in cinema – “Operation Y and Shurik’s Other Adventures” (1965), “Kidnapping, Caucasian Style” (1967), “The Diamond Arm” (1969), “Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future” (1973), “It Can’t Be!” (1975). The aim of the study is to determine the main features of Soviet cinema tragicomedy in the context of the epoch (during the 1960s – early 1970s). The scientific novelty of the study is accounted for by the identification of the way that hidden tragicomicality manifested itself in L. Gaidai’s films under consideration as a consequence of the increased social criticism that had emerged after the end of the Khrushchev Thaw. As a result, the author concludes that during the formation of tragicomedy, the comic interpretation of the tragic was itself tragic.