By the Lake () is a two-part 1969 Soviet film directed by Sergei Gerasimov. In 1971 the USSR State Prize for this film was awarded to Sergei Gerasimov, cinematographer Vladimir Rapoport, art director Pyotr Galadzhev, and the group of leading actors: Oleg Zhakov, Vasily Shukshin, Natalya Belokhvostikova. Plot The film covers the time period of the first half of the 1960s. On the shore of Lake Baikal construction of a pulp and paper mill is planned. Well-known scientist Professor Barmin and his daughter Lena start to fight to preserve the unique ecosystem of the lake. At the same time Lena Barmina's personal drama unfolds, when she falls in love with the married elderly plant director Vasily Chernykh. One of the main characters in the film was based on the scientist Mikhail Kozhov, an expert on the fauna of Lake Baikal. Cast Oleg Zhakov as Barmin Vasily Shukshin as Chernykh Natalya Belokhvostikova as Lena Barmina Valentina Telichkina as Valya Korolkova Mikhail Nozhkin as Gennady Yakovlev Natalya Arinbasarova as Katya Olzoeva Nikolai Yeremenko Jr. as Alexey Vadim Spiridonov as Konstantin Konovalov Yuriy Kuzmenkov as a passenger on a train Natalya Bondarchuk as a passenger on a train Nina Maslova as a girl in a drama production External links 1969 films Soviet drama films 1960s Russian-language films Films set in the Soviet Union Gorky Film Studio films Films directed by Sergei Gerasimov