Soviet cinema gave the world many colorful characters, but few of them became as iconic as truck driver with families in every city. The film “Big Change” (1972–1973), directed by Alexei Korenev, although it was not dedicated exclusively to this plot, forever cemented in popular culture the image of a “polygamist” driver who had his own family in every city of the USSR. Viewers are still arguing: was this character an invention of the screenwriters or did he reflect the real morals of the era?
The film, consisting of three short stories, became a reflection "road romance" of the 1970s, when the profession of a truck driver was associated with freedom, adventure and... complex personal relationships. In this article we will look at why this particular plot was remembered by the viewer more than others, who could become the prototype of the main character, and how the film influenced the perception of the profession of a truck driver in the USSR. You will also find out where you can see the painting today and what details in it were encrypted for the attentive viewer.
Brief plot: why the film is remembered for this particular story
“The Big Break” is a film almanac consisting of three independent stories united by the theme roads and human destinies. However, it was the second story, “Trucker,” that became the most discussed. It talks about the driver ZIL-130 by name Vasily (played by actor Evgeny Leonov), who has a family in every city on his route. The wives know nothing about each other, and the hero himself masterfully balances between them, until one day his deception begins to crumble.
It's interesting that the writers Emil Braginsky and Eldar Ryazanov (yes, the same author of “The Irony of Fate”) they initially planned to make the novella more dramatic, but Evgeny Leonov brought so much charm and comedy to the role that the story became more of a tragicomedy. The audience laughed at Vasily's antics, but at the same time sympathized with his wives - ordinary Soviet women who believed in the honesty and devotion of their husbands.
- 🎬 First novella — “The Hitchhiker” (about a girl traveling around the country).
- 🚛 Second story — “Trucker” (about Vasily and his families in every city).
- 💔 Third novella — “The Last Flight” (about a driver who decides to leave the profession).
Why did the story about a polygamist become the calling card of the film? The fact is that it touched two important chords in Soviet society: romance of the road (truck drivers in the 1970s were sort of “highway astronauts”) and taboo on polygamy, which was officially condemned in the USSR, but in reality was not so rare.
Real prototypes: were there truck drivers with families in the USSR?
After the release of the film, many viewers wondered: Isn’t Vasily copied from a real person? Officially, the scriptwriters denied the existence of a prototype, but in an interview in the 1990s, Eldar Ryazanov admitted that the idea came after a conversation with a driver who jokingly said: “I have a wife in every city - one feeds, the other does the laundry, the third... well, you understand.” This phrase became the impetus for the plot.
However, in reality polygamy among truck drivers was not such a rare occurrence. In the 1970s–1980s, the profession of a truck driver involved long flights (sometimes for several months), and many men started “temporary” families in cities where they often visited. Archived data Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR show that from 1975 to 1985, the divorce rate among truck drivers was 30% higher than the national average.
| Year | Number of divorces among truck drivers (per 1000 people) | USSR average |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12.4 | 8.1 |
| 1975 | 15.7 | 9.3 |
| 1980 | 18.2 | 10.5 |
| 1985 | 16.8 | 11.0 |
Moreover, in magazine "Behind the wheel" (No. 6, 1978) the article “Road and Family” was published, which talked about the social problems of truck drivers. The author gave examples of how some men registered marriages in different cities, taking advantage of the fact that the passport did not have a mandatory stamp on marital status (introduced only in 1997). Thus, theoretically, Vasily from the film could exist in reality!
⚠️ Attention: In the USSR polygamy (even unofficial) was considered a criminal offense under Article 235 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR (“Polygamy or cohabitation with two or more women”). However, in practice, such cases were initiated extremely rarely - only if one of the wives wrote a statement to the police.
Actors and filming process: how the iconic image was created
He played the role of truck driver Vasily Evgeniy Leonov - an actor who by that time was already a star thanks to the films “Striped Flight” and “Gentlemen of Fortune.” It was his charisma that made the character not just negative, but tragicomic. Leonov later admitted that he put part of himself into the role: “I myself loved the road, and it was easy for me to understand this man who cannot live without movement.”
Interesting facts about the filming:
- 🎥 ZIL-130 was provided for the film Mosavtotrans - a real transport company, where many drivers after the premiere admitted that they recognized themselves in Leonov’s hero.
- 🚚 Vasily's route ran along real routes: Moscow - Minsk - Brest - Lvov. Some scenes were filmed while moving!
- 💍 "Wives" of Vasily were played by actresses Nonna Mordyukova, Lyubov Sokolova and Valentina Talyzina — each gave its heroine a unique character.
Director Alexey Korenev recalled that the most difficult scene was final, where Vasily tries to explain himself to his wives. Leonov improvised on the set, and some lines (for example, “Why are you all looking at me like that? I’m not a wolf!”) were born spontaneously. This scene is still considered one of the most powerful in Soviet comedy.
If you want to feel the atmosphere of the film, try driving along the M1 Belarus highway (Moscow - Minsk). Many of the cafes and gas stations along it haven't changed much since the 1970s!
Cultural Impact: How the Film Changed the Perception of Truckers
Before the release of The Big Change, the profession of a truck driver in the USSR was associated primarily with romance and heroism. Drivers were perceived as people who "feeding the country", delivering goods to remote areas. However, after the film, a stereotype appeared in society "truck driver seducer", which has become a household name.
It is curious that the film itself did not condemn Vasily - rather, it showed him as a victim of circumstances. This caused heated discussions in the press. For example, in newspaper "Soviet Culture" (1973) a critical article “Morality on Wheels” was published, where the authors accused the filmmakers of propaganda of immoral behavior. In response, Eldar Ryazanov wrote an open letter, where he stated: “We showed not an ideal, but a real person with all his weaknesses.”
Here's how the film impacted culture:
- 📚 Literature: After the release of the film, several stories and tales about truck drivers appeared (for example, “The Highway” by Viktor Astafiev).
- 🎶 Music: The song “Thirty-three cows” by the group “Lube” (1990s) refers to the image of a driver with families in different cities.
- 🎬 Cinema: In the 2000s, remakes and parodies appeared, for example, the TV series “Truckers” (2001).
⚠️ Attention: In the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR, many truck drivers actually faced problems in their personal lives due to long flights. According to Trade Union of Drivers of Russia, in 1995, one in five divorces among truck drivers was initiated due to “impossibility of cohabitation.”
Where to watch the movie today and what to look for in details
The Big Break is still popular and the film is not difficult to find. Here's where you can watch it legally:
- 📺 Television: It is periodically broadcast on the Russia-Culture and Nostalgia channels.
- 💻 Online cinemas: Available at ivi, Okko and Kinopoisk HD (sometimes behind a paywall).
- 💿 DVD/Blu-ray: Released in collector's editions, for example, in the "Golden Collection of Soviet Cinema" series.
If you decide to rewatch the film, pay attention to hidden detailsthat many viewers miss:
- 🔍 Car numbers: On ZIL-130 Vasily's number
MOL 77-77- this is a reference to the “lucky” number and at the same time a hint that the hero is “lucky” with women. - 📅 Calendars in wives' houses: Each family has calendars with different dates - this emphasizes that Vasily lives in “parallel realities.”
- 🎵 Music: In the scene with the first wife, the song “Topolya” (performed by Maya Kristalinskaya) is heard, which has become the unofficial anthem of truckers.
What does the final scene mean?
In the finale, Vasily is left alone on the side of the road, and his cars drive off in different directions. This symbolizes not only the collapse of his deception, but also the end of the era of “happy truckers” — with the development of technology (walkie-talkies, later mobile phones), such stories became impossible.
Why the film is still relevant: psychology and sociology of the image
At first glance, Big Break is a comedy about an unfaithful husband. But what the film really touches on is deep social and psychological themesthat are still relevant today:
- Loneliness on the road. Truckers spent months on the road, and their families became “anchors” for them in different cities. This reflects the problem social isolation people whose work involves constant travel.
- Double standards. Society condemned Vasily, but at the same time admired his “male prowess.” This paradox still exists in the perception of infidelity.
- Technological progress vs. human relations. In the 1970s, truckers could hide their lives for years, but today social networks and GPS trackers make it almost impossible.
Interestingly, in the 2010s, psychologists even coined the term "Vasil's syndrome" - this is the name given to the condition of men who lead parallel lives in different cities. This phenomenon was studied, for example, in the study Institute of Sociology RAS (2018), where it was noted that with the development of air travel and remote work, such cases began to occur not only among drivers, but also among traveling employees and freelancers.
The film “Big Break” became not just a comedy, but a social document of the era. He showed how a profession shapes a person and what sacrifices “freedom of the road” sometimes brings.
FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions about the film
🔹 Why is the film called “Big Change” if it is about a truck driver?
The title refers to changes in the lives of heroes. For Vasily, the “big change” is the collapse of his double life, for other characters it is turning points in fate. This is also a hint at "changes" in Soviet society in the 1970s, when traditional foundations began to burst at the seams.
🔹 Did the ZIL-130 with the number MOL 77-77 really exist?
No, it's fictitious number, invented for the film. However, after the film was released, many drivers tried to get similar numbers. B Traffic police of the Moscow region they even jokingly called such combinations “Vasily’s numbers.”
🔹 Why did Evgeny Leonov agree to play a negative hero?
Leonov saw in Vasily not a villain, but tragic character. He said: “This man is not a cunning deceiver, but simply weak. He is afraid of losing the warmth of the family hearth, so he tries to have it everywhere.” The actor also noted that the role was a challenge for him - after all, before that he had played most positive characters.
🔹 What other films about truckers are worth watching?
If you liked The Big Break, check out:
- 🎬 «Truckers"(2001) - Russian series inspired by Soviet classics.
- 🎬 «Black Lightning"(2009) - a fantastic comedy about a driver with superpowers.
- 🎬 «Load 200"(2007) - a darker film about Soviet drivers.
🔹 Why is there no happy ending in the film?
The scriptwriters deliberately avoided a happy ending in order to emphasize the inevitability of retribution for deception. Eldar Ryazanov said: “If Vasily had remained with one of his wives, it would have been a deception of the viewer. His life is a road, and he must remain alone on it.”