Mikhail Kalatozov

Biography

Mikhail Kalatozov (28 December 1903 – 27 March 1973; born Mikheil Kalatozishvili) was a Soviet film director of Georgian origin who contributed to both Georgian and Russian cinema film director best known for his films The Cranes Are Flying (1957) and Soy Cuba (1964). The former won the Palme d'Or at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival. In 1969, he received the People's Artist of the USSR accolade.

Kalatozov studied economics and changed many professions before starting his career as an actor and later — as a cinematographer. He directed several documentaries, including Their Kingdom (1928, with Nutsa Gogoberidze, the first Georgian female director) and Salt for Svanetia (1930).

In 1933, Kalatoz...