The classic Russian fairy tale, narrated in the language of animated film for a younger generation of internet-influenced viewers: On the pursuit of the ideals of feminism the Tsar's daughter Vasilisa studies at both Oxford and the Sorbonne. All thoughts of marriage have been post¬poned to the indefinite future, and even then she would only be willing to marry for love. At the moment however she dreams of nothing more than continuing her studies; that is when the Tsar decides to have her marry the first bachelor who comes along; that turns out to be simple- minded Ivan! In order to prove his eligibility to marry the Tsar's daughter,
Ivan has to pass a test. Thus the Tsar despatches prospective son-in-law and his aide, the grey wolf, on a journey.
The traditional fairy tale plot time and again makes its presence felt in the present day: Baba Jaga dreams of prolonging her youth with the help of cosmetic surgery, Kastschei the Immortal's attire is reminis¬cent of dragon costume, and the Tsar demands that an underling "take charge of the 2014 sporting venues", a reference to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Digibeta | Anim. | Farbe / colour
Aleksandr Boyarskiy, Maksim Sveshnikov
Valentin Golounin
Svetlana Varfolomeeva, Ekaterina Smirnova
Valentin Vasenkov
Speaker: Tatiana Bunina, Liya Akhedzhakova, Viktor Sukhorukov, Mikhail Boyarskiy, Nikita Efremov, Sergey Garmash, Artur Smolyaninov
CTB Film Company
Kamennostrovskiy Prospect 10
St. Petersburg
Russia 197101
kino@ctb.ru
Vladimir Toropchin - born 1964 in Borovichi, Novgorod Oblast. Has since 1998 worked for the Russian "Melnitsa" Animation Studio, where he runs the department for computer games. Also works as an animation teacher.
His debut feature animation film was released in 2007.
ILYA MUROMETS I SOLOVEY RAZBOYNIK (2007, anim.)