Vesna (1947)

English title: Spring

A film studio intends to do a film based on the life and works of a scientist who is developing a solar energy system. They put an ad out in search of lookalikes for that scientist. A dancer-actress performing in stage musicals applies for the job. When her boss refuses to release her from her contract, she looks up the scientist and asks her to fill in for her when the film rehearsal schedule conflicts with her theatrical appointments.

As the person nicknamed Shezan points out in a review on this movie's IMDB page:

*quote*
"Vesna" (Spring) is a cross between "Ninotchka" (mannish Soviet career woman discovers silliness and sophistication) and "The Prince and the Pauper" - Shatrova, the singer-actress, exchanges roles with Nikitina, the renowned scientist whom she's supposed to portray in a lightweight movie, and each woman (both played by Lyubov Orlova, a real Soviet film star who's not especially glamorous but plenty talented) finds love in the other's universe.
*unquote*

Ninotchka was a critique of Communism. Since this is a film made in a communist country, it was expected that they would somehow deflect all critical discourse away from Communism. And that is exactly what happens. In Vesna, they replace Communism with Science, and Capitalism with Art. In a way, it is a response to Ninotchka, and an attempt of rebuttal of it. They try to show that love of life and a love life are not dependent on particular political systems, yet it may be influenced by personal temperament and the professional environment. It is worth pointing out that both films have female protagonists; it is as if they were saying that women cannot get too serious without losing some of their humanity (but men are somehow immune to that). All this may sound very interesting, but the truth is that this is not an especially well-written movie. It starts out well enough, but soon gets repetitive and strangely uneventful at some parts. The musical numbers are lavishly executed, but the odd thing is that they don't relate in any way to the story and add nothing to it.

Rating: 34