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It Happened Near the Sea is a 1989 Soviet drama film directed by Ayan Shakhmaliyeva. It was made during the dying days of the Soviet Union, and reflects the growing discontent towards the Soviet system. In a couple of scenes it mentions the Soviet–Afghan War, with one girl's father revealed to be fighting in the war. That war ended in February that year with Soviet withdrawal and failure. Just a few months after the film was made came the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. As well as its critical stance on Communism, it was controversial due to nude scenes involving some of the young cast in the medical scenes.