One need not share Birkos' sanguine view that the post-1953 ""generation of Soviet filmmakers has shown itself to possess as much talent as its predecessors"" to find his introductory historical survey useful, bland as it is; and the entries on individual Soviet directors and films, 1918-1975, comprise an extensive, not insensitive guide to the field. To anyone concerned with Soviet internal developments, even the plot summaries are of interest.