Mikhail Gomorov (Moscow, 1924 – St. Petersburg, 2001) was an influential Russian director and screenwriter whose work spanned several eras of Soviet and post-Soviet history. Trained at the VGIK State Institute of Cinematography, he emerged during the Khrushchev Thaw with a style that combined socialist realism with deep psychological introspection. His most celebrated works, including *The Steel Dawn* and *Whispers on the Steppe*, explore the human condition in contexts of strong ideological pressure. His career was marked by periods of conflict with state censorship, especially during the Brezhnev era, followed by a creative resurgence with Perestroika that culminated in his final film, *The Broken Echo*. Gomorov received numerous international awards, including prizes at the Cannes and Berlin film festivals, and was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR. In 1998, he received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival, solidifying his status as a master of world cinema.