Office Romance

Office Romance is a 1977 Soviet comedy film about a timid senior statistician Anatoly Novoseltsev and his female boss Lyudmila Kalougina, a strict plain unmarried woman called "our frump" behind her back. Following his friend's advice Novoseltsev starts courting Kalougina on purpose to be promoted; started for mercenary ends, it eventually results in mutual love that transforms both of them. Directed by Eldar Ryazanov. Written by Emil Braginsky and Eldar Ryazanov, based on a stageplay "Coworkers" (Russian: Сослуживцы, Sosluzhivtsy) by Eldar Ryazanov and Emil Braginsky. A fairy tale about managing Cinderella Novoseltsev As everyone knows, labor ennobles man, and that's why people go to work with pleasure. This is Shoura - nice but, unfortunately, active. At some point she was promoted to public work and there's been no way to discharge her from it ever since. I have children - a boy and... a boy. Two boys. (to Shoura, angrily): Go to... the accounting department!!! And even farther! Verochka (secretary) I won't live that long, I have a hazardous job! That's all for you, Novoseltsev... Wash-out! My old woman is interested in you. Exploring your personal records! Footwear is what makes woman. What distinguishes a businesswoman from a Woman? A gait! Just look how you walk! ....Huddle yourself up, tie yourself in a knot, shrivel like an old torn boot and here you are dashing to work as if hammering in polings! But look how we do. My head is up... eyes are down a little... everything is relaxed here... shoulders pulled back... I move freely from my hip... a spring-relaxed style of a panther ready for leap. Lyudmila Prokofyevna, where did you pick up this vulgarity? You wag your hips like a loose woman! As a matter of fact, one could even teach a hare to smoke. There's nothing impossible for a person with intellect. Ryzhova, the bottle blond that always walks with string bags. Look, here she sits, all in terrible roses. In a woman, there should be mystery. Other Ryzhova: When a woman is told that she is a good girl, does it mean that she's an utter fool? Kalougina: I have such an unstained reputation, it's high time to compromise me. Dialogue Kalougina : You have stated that I am tough... Novoseltsev : Why, you are tender... Kalougina : inhuman... Novoseltsev: Human! Kalougina: heartless... Novoseltsev: Hearty! Kalougina: dry... Novoseltsev: Wet! Novoseltsev: Now let's sort it out with you. When will you stop being making mischief? Why is everyone always complaining about you? Vova (Novoseltsev's son): But I behave myself! Novoseltsev: Why don't they complain about the other children, eh? And why have you been eating plasticine? Vova: But I ate it with sugar! Novoseltsev: You're a big boy, you know perfectly well that we don't eat play dough. And what did you guys lock Masha in a closet for? Vova: You see, I locked her in, but the key got lost... Novoseltsev: March! And don't even think of smearing glue on the teacher's chair, you hear! Kalougina: Wait, it dawned upon me... Are you drunk? Novoseltsev: No, when I am drunk I am violent. (gives a neighing laugh) But right now I am quiet. Kalougina: I am lucky! Kalougina: I hope you're not going to play music now. Novoseltsev: Yeah... I want to... sing! Kalougina: What a misfortune! Novoseltsev: Why? My friends say that I have a beautiful baritonal... descant! Novoseltsev: We love you... In the bottom of our souls... Somewhere very deep... Kalougina: So deep that I don't even notice it! Verochka's husband (on the phone): I understood why we broke up. We need to have a baby, and as soon as possible! Verochka: You want us to have a baby? But I can't now.. There are two hours left till the end of the workday, and Kalougina is here... I can't go off... Kalougina: I made a ruin of myself... And I am only thirty-six... Novoseltsev (amazed): How thirty-six?! Kalougina: Yes, I am younger than you. How old do I look? Novoseltsev: You look... thirty... five! Kalougina: You are lying again! Verochka: Breast forward! Kalougina: Breast? Vera, you're flattering me! Verochka: Everyone is flattering you. Shoura: Boublikov died! <...> Donate 50 copecks for a wreath! Novoseltsev: If someone else is born or dead today I will be left without a lunch... Novoseltsev: Don't hit me on my head, it's my vulnerable spot! Kalougina: It's your hollow spot! Kalougina: You are a real contemporary man! Novoseltsev: How dare you insult me like this?! Kalougina: Were you bad at school? I knew that you're a former dunce! Novoseltsev: Let's leave my shadowy past alone. Cast Andrey Myagkov — Anatoly Yefremovich Novoseltsev Alisa Freindlich — Lyudmila Prokofyevna Kalougina Svetlana Nemolyayeva — Olga Petrovna Ryzhova Oleg Basilashvili — Yuri Grigoryevich Samokhvalov Liya Akhedzhakova — Verochka Georgi Burkov — Zavkhoz (Logistics manager) Lyudmila Ivanova — Activist Shoura Pyotr Shcherbakov — Pyotr Ivanovich Boublikov Nelly Pshennaya — Samokhvalov's wife External links 0076727 Category:1977 films Category:Comedy films Category:Soviet films Category:Foreign language films Category:Films set in Moscow Category:Films set in the Soviet Union