Category: Soviet Era

Soviet Film Wednesday: The Snow Queen

The Snow Queen, a 1957 film directed by Lev Atamanov, is a celebrated cinematic gem in the realm of animated cinema. This Russian animation feature, produced by Soyuzmultfilm, is based on the fairy tale of the same name by renowned Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The film remains a classic example of Atamanov’s brilliant storytelling …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: Nostalghia

Welcome to an exploration of a Soviet cinematic masterpiece – Nostalghia. This film, directed by the legendary Andrei Tarkovsky, stands as one of the most intriguing and evocative pieces of cinema in the 20th century. It is a film that elegantly portrays the longing for home, the complexity of human emotions, and the profound influence …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: Carnival Night

The year 1956 marked a turning point in the history of Soviet cinema. It was a time of significant cultural and political shifts, and the burgeoning film industry played a vital role in reflecting these changes. The 1956 film, Carnival Night, was at the forefront of this cinematic revolution, providing a fresh perspective on Soviet …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: Jack Frost

Jack Frost, or Morozko as it is known in its original language, is a seminal 1964 film from the Soviet Union. Directed by the acclaimed Alexander Rou, the film stands as a testament to the rich history of Soviet cinema, replete with elements of fantasy and folklore. The film’s narrative revolves around the character of …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: The Night Before Christmas (1961)

In the vast landscape of cinema history, there are few films that encapsulate the bizarreness of a festivity like the 1961 film, The Night Before Christmas. Directed by the filmmaker Aleksandr Rou and inspired by Nikolai Gogol’s story “Christmas Eve”, this fantasy film is a unique blend of magic, love, and tradition. The Night Before …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: “Singing Cat” from Tale of the Fox

Here is a charming little song, “Singing Cat,” an excerpt from Ladislas Starevich’s first animated feature, and often regarded as his finest work, The Tale of the Fox (Le Roman de Renard), made with the help of his daughter Irene in 1941. Ladislas Starevich was born in Moscow on August 8, 1882 and moved to …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: Good Night Children

This animated short was created by Russian artist Yuri Norstein, who is known for his attention to fine detail in his beautiful handmade stop-motion films which often include layers of sketches and paintings on paper and glass. It took Norstein almost two years to create this short piece. Norstein creates delicate movements, a unique sense …

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Andrei Rublev: A Film that Redefined Cinema

Hailed as a magnum opus, Andrei Rublev is an emblematic film that has left a profound impact on cinema. This is a film not just to be watched, but to be experienced. Its hypnotic visuals, philosophical musings, and the exploration of the human condition are as mesmerizing as they are thought-provoking. The film, directed by …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: Seasons

Seasons, made in 1969, is one of the most beloved Russian animations, directed by Yuri Norstein and Ivan Ivanov-Vano, with the music of Tchaikovsky. You can find this and four other animations by Norstein: The Battle of Kerzhenets, Fox and Rabbit, The Heron and the Crane, and Hedgehog in the Fog, all on DVD in Masters of …

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Soviet Film Wednesday: Hedgehog in the Fog

Today we have another wonderful Yuri Norstein film, Hedgehog in the Fog.  Norstein is best known for this animation, as well as his Tale of Tales.  Hedgehog in the Fog was directed by Norstein, written by Sergei Kozlov, with music by Mikhail Meyerovich.  It was produced by Soyuzmultfilm in 1975. It is the story of a hedgehog and a bear cub who …

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