I will tell you 2 of essential Russian films which you should certainly watch, to understand what films Russian people adore watching several times each year. These films like an addiction on every Russian family & already regarded as cults. If you talk about these films to a Russian woman, they will be surely interested in you much 
First of all, it is traditional to watch The Irony of Fate (Ironiya Sudbi in Russian) in New Year’s Eve every year. This fantastic romantic comedy made in 70s tells a love story which is a result of interesting consequences. Four friends in Moscow each year go to a bathing house to drink vodka & celebrate the incoming year. The main hero of the film who is planned to be married to a girl in a few days, accidentally sent to Saint Petersburg by plane instead of other man in the group. Note that all are drunk like elephants! The next point is very funny & historically important. In 70s, architectures of Soviet times built the same streets, same buildings even with the same apartment numbers, even the keys. He, while very drunk, goes to his such twin home in Saint Petersburg and opens the door with his own key! After that, hilarious things begin to happen with the involvement of the woman who lives there, beautiful Nadya..
Watch this very warm film. It has also very melodramatic moments .You will understand Russian culture and how really these people are living with their real emotions with love & naiveness actually. The music scores in the film are excellent as well. It is one of the gems of talented, legendary Russian film director Eldar Ryazanov. Watch this film in Russian with English subtitles better.
p.s : They made another film (The Irony of Fate, Continuation) after 30 years with the involvement of the very same actors of 70s. It is also well played but surely nothing can be a replacement like the original one.
Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (Moskva Slezam ni Verit in Russian)
This is a very sentimental Russian film from 70s. Pure depressive happiness & eternal hopes! I adore the way that very sad & funny moments are mixed together so naturally that you don’t notice how film flies away in 2 hours without a single cliche of mainstream movies. Awarded by Academy for Best Foreign Film in 1981, Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears begins with a story of three girlfriends in a Soviet time dormitory which completely tells you life style & manners of communist 50s. Starting with real warm moments, we first see the biggest heartbreak of one of the girls in the company, actually our main character. After that, the second part of the film is opened after skipping 20 years. We see how they deal with new era of 70s and how changed their dreams about future.
After watching this film, it is easy to understand how warm Russian movies from especially 70s. I especially note that the character of real Russian woman. They are strong even to work in factories in heavy conditions, but never forget their feminine, sentimental side. Watch this film, you will understand what I mean. As always, my suggestion is with subtitles in original Russian language.
