The Boys from Leningrad (Russian: Запасной игрок, romanized: Zapasnoy igrok) is a 1954 Soviet sports comedy film[1] directed by Semyon Timoshenko.
[2][3][4][5] The film tells the story of a promising young footballer who steps up to save his team both on the field and in goal, while navigating romantic rivalry and unexpected challenges on a journey to the Trade Unions Cup final.
Vasya Vesnushkin, a promising reserve striker for the "Blue Arrows," is smitten with a gymnast named Valya but fears she may prefer his arrogant older brother, Sasha, the team’s star player.
When Dedushkin reveals his true identity as Svetlanov, an amateur boxer, the team's coach forbids Sasha from participating.
With the team’s triumph, Valya accepts a gift from Vasya, signaling that she has grown fond of him, completing his journey of both personal and athletic success.