''We'll Live Till Monday'' (, translit. Dozhivyom do ponedelnika) is a 1968 Soviet

romantic drama film Romance films involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion (emotion), passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their ...

directed by

Stanislav Rostotsky Stanislav Iosifovich Rostotsky (; 21 April 1922, Rybinsk – 10 August 2001, Vyborgsky District) was a Soviet film director, screenwriter and pedagogue. He was named People's Artist of the USSR in 1974. Early years Stanislav Rostotsky was ...

. It was entered into the

6th Moscow International Film Festival The 6th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 7 to 22 July 1969. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Cuban film ''Lucía'' directed by Humberto Solás, the Italian film ''Serafino (film), Serafino'' directed by Pietro Germi and the ...

where it won the Golden Prize. The film is about the life of an ordinary Moscow school with all its joys, problems and difficult choices in their lives of students and teachers. History teacher Ilya Melnikov is familiar with both doubts and feelings of dissatisfaction. Though he is not always right, he fights, loves, and overcomes difficulties and doubts.

Plot

The story spans three days in the life of a ninth-grade class in a typical Soviet high school located in a residential area of Moscow. Natasha Gorelova, a recent graduate, returns to her old school as an English teacher, now known as Natalia Sergeevna. She is joined by her former history teacher, Ilya Semyonovich Melnikov, a respected yet strict educator and former frontline officer. While he is well-regarded by students, his rigid principles lead to frequent conflicts with colleagues and even students’ families. Melnikov’s sternness and inner struggles—disillusionment with societal values, a sense of inadequacy, and unspoken feelings for Natalia—cause him deep personal turmoil. Meanwhile, the head teacher, Svetlana Mikhailovna, is a seasoned and somewhat dry educator who privately resents her unfulfilled life and harbors jealousy towards both Melnikov’s rapport with students and his connection with Natalia. In the classroom, the dynamics between students mirror their teachers’ conflicts: Gena Shestopal’s unrequited love for Rita Cherkasova leads to clashes with the class's charismatic yet cynical leader, Kostya Batishchev. Over the three days, various interactions expose tensions and hidden feelings. On Thursday, a playful incident with a crow escalates, leading the students to boycott Natalia’s class, only to resolve it later with apologies on both sides. Friday sees Melnikov in a difficult confrontation with the school administration, expressing his frustrations about the growing indifference and lack of principles he perceives in society. His devotion to honesty and ideals leaves him isolated from those who find his standards too harsh. Meanwhile, Gena Shestopal, driven by his frustration over unspoken emotions, sneaks into the school after hours to steal and burn his classmates' essays, leaving a poetic note behind. On Saturday, as the incident comes to light, Gena faces possible expulsion, but Melnikov defends him, seeing the act as an expression of youthful rebellion rather than malice. The film culminates in Melnikov’s conflicted farewell at the end of the lesson, where he hints at leaving but then reassures the students it’s only “until Monday,” leaving them to ponder his true meaning.

Cast

Vyacheslav Tikhonov Vyacheslav Vasilyevich Tikhonov (; 8 February 1928 – 4 December 2009) was a Soviet and Russian actor whose best known role was as Soviet spy Stierlitz in the television series ''Seventeen Moments of Spring''. He was a recipient of numerou ...

as Ilya Semyonovich Melnikov — History Teacher * Irina Pechernikova as Natalya Sergeevna Gorelova — English Language Teacher, former Melnikov's student *

Nina Menshikova Nina Yevgenyevna Menshikova (; 8 August 1928 – 26 December 2007) was a Soviet actress. She was the wife of Stanislav Rostotsky and the mother of Andrei Rostotsky. Nina Menshikova was awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR in 197 ...

as Svetlana Mikhailovna — Russian Language and Literature Teacher *

Mikhail Zimin Michael is a common masculine given name derived from the Hebrew phrase ''mī kāʼēl'', 'Who slike-El', in Aramaic: ܡܝܟܐܝܠ (''Mīkhāʼēl'' ). The theophoric name is often read as a rhetorical question – "Who slike he Hebrew Go ...

as Nikolai Borisovich — School Principal * Nadir Malishevsky as TV Show Host *

Dalvin Shcherbakov Dalvin may refer to: *Dalvin Cook (born 1995), American football running back *Dalvin DeGrate (born 1971), American R&B and soul musician, singer and rapper, best known for his days as Mr. Dalvin, one-quarter of the R&B group Jodeci * Dalvin Tomlin ...

as Borya Rudnitsky, former Melnikov's student *

Olga Zhiznyeva Olga Andreyevna Zhizneva (Russian: Ольга Андреевна Жизнева; April 17, 1899November 10, 1972) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actress. People's Artist of the RSFSR (1969). Selected filmography *'' Property of the Rep ...

as Melnikov's Mother * Lyudmila Arkharova as Nadya Ogarysheva, pupil * Valeriy Zubarev as Genka Shestopal, pupil *

Olga Ostroumova Olga Mikhailovna Ostroumova (; born 21 September 1947) is a Soviet and Russian theater and film actress. Best known for her roles in films '' We'll Live Till Monday'' (1968, her debut), '' The Dawns Here Are Quiet'' (1972, Italian ''Silver Nymph'' ...

as Rita Cherkasova, pupil * Igor Starygin as Kostya Batishchev, pupil *

Roza Grigoryeva Roza may refer to: People Last name *Fernando Luiz Roza (b. 1985), Brazilian soccer player *Lita Roza (1926–2008), British singer First name * Roza Anagnosti (born 1943) Albanian actress *Roza Baglanova (1922–2011), Soviet/Kazakh oper ...

as Sveta Demidova, pupil *

Yuri Chernov Yury Nikolayevich Chernov (; born 24 April 1949) is a Soviet and Russian actor of theatre and cinema. Honored Artist of Russia (1994) and People's Artist of Russia (2008). Biography Yuri was born on 24 April 1949 in the city of Kuibyshev. ...

as Syromyatnikov, pupil * Lyubov Sokolova as Levikova * Arkadi Listarov as Vova Levikov, pupil

Awards

* ''

Soviet Screen ''Soviet Screen'' () was an illustrated magazine published in the USSR with varying frequency from 1925 to 1998 (with a break from 1941–1957Fifty years from the date of the first issue of Soviet Screen — 1975. — P. 18-19.) The magazine co ...

'' Magazine Best 1968 film * Golden Prize of

, 1969 *

USSR State Prize The USSR State Prize () was one of the Soviet Union’s highest civilian honours, awarded from its establishment in September 1966 until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. It recognised outstanding contributions in the fields of science, mathem ...

, 1970

References

External links

* 1968 films 1968 romantic drama films Soviet romantic drama films Russian-language romantic drama films 1960s Russian-language films Films directed by Stanislav Rostotsky Films set in schools Films set in the Soviet Union Films shot in Moscow Gorky Film Studio films 1960s teen drama films Soviet teen drama films 1960s Soviet films {{1960s-USSR-film-stub