Based on the novel of the same title by the Strugatsky brothers
"Konstantin Lopushansky was a student of classic Soviet director Andrei Tarkovsky, and master's influence is highly visible in "The Ugly Swans" -- not just as a ghost in the background, but as full-fledged foreground presence. Which is not to deny Lopushansky his originality. More than anything, it's a sign of a certain artistic style being handed down over the generations... The film is ...aesthetically outstanding and emotionally moody in a way that's very hard to gauge... Tarkovsky would have been proud." (Tom Birchenough, "The Moscow Times")
