OMG, thanks to anglepoiselamp
...I didn't realize all these Russian children's movie clips were on youtube!
I definitely have a Peter Pan complex, but it's merited, dammit. Those films were awesome. So much 60s, 70s, 80s fun. Plus with songs!
I must share some of this goodness with you. Yes, a lot of it is ridiculous. ALL THE BETTER.
First off, "Buratino," the Russian take on the Pinocchio story. Not sure what to call it--basically, the author had read "Pinocchio" as a child and loved it, but since then forgot most of the story and just decided to re-tell it as best he could. (Apparently there's been some academic work done on this phenomenon in Soviet-era lit of re-writing Western works and its interaction with modern fandom and fanfic now.) So, you know, same basic conceit, totally different execution. For one thing, here dolls exist alongside human children and talking animals, so Buratino's wish to be like a "real boy" isn't rooted in bodily transformation. And his nose is perpetually long 'cause he likes it that way, and wouldn't let his carpenter-father whittle it down.
Here's a clip of him setting off home to his father after his first brief adventure, full of high-minded resolutions to be a proper, obedient son (obviously things come up along the way). How can it not make you smile?
A whole slew of characters were introduced in the Russian reworking. One, a beautiful and very proper blue haired doll Malvina, insistent on educating/disciplining the rowdy Buratino, and her aristocratic French poodle. (Here played hilariously by a poufy-dressed boy.) Two, a runaway Pierrot doll, who's basically an emo stereotype 30 (or 70, if you go by the book's date) years too early. He's in search of Malvina, with whom he's tragically in love, but he is entirely ineffectual, and capable only of reciting bad poetry or singing pining love songs. In the book, although not in the movie, he also constantly bemoans his fate and threatens suicide. He's always shedding his makeup and crying. At first Malvina appreciates his extreme gentleness and manners, but eventually gets annoyed with his uselessness in the face of danger. Buratino is alternately amused and irritated by him. There's also a Harlequin and other minor characters, but they're not here so it doesn't much matter.
Buratino: Here, I brought him. Go on and "educate."
Pierrot: Oh, pardon the unworthy poet who allows himself to perform a song! This song is--for you.
Late at night all alone in the sky
So temptingly the moon shines
And I would wish to fetch it for you from the heavens
But what can I do? At night I must sleep!
**I don't need raspberries, I'm not afraid of getting sick,
In fact I don't fear anything, if only Malvina, if only Malvina...
Adored me and only me!**
At dawn, early in the morning
The sun hangs low in the sky
And I would wish to fetch it for you from the heavens
But what can I do? In the morning it's hard to wake up!
**repeat chorus**
Book illustrations:
I think I must have had 5 copies of this book because I recognize all but one of these editions.
I wanted to add clips from "The Snow Queen," but there was too much exposition and dialogue for non-Russian speakers.
Btw, I found films for stories I didn't even know got filmed, like "The Star Child" and other things. Did the Russians make children's films from every single children's story ever? When I go to Russian video stores, the children's films section is always pretty impressive. The funny thing is that there are cartoons of all these as well. Although I think the reason it seems like there is everything is that these films do not seem to pass out of circulation. Some of the cartoons I watched as a child were made in the 40s, and my parents saw them too, and I see them being shown on DVD to younger kids as well. Most of the other stuff I associate with "my" childhood was actually made during my parents' childhood or earlier.
Though Youtube documentaries tell me that children's films were indeed especially prolific in the Soviet era because they were usually safe from accusations of being anti-Soviet (and still not always). And they were supposedly allotted a bigger budget than other films, and yet apparently a lot of the actors in this one actually had to make/provide their own costumes!
I definitely have a Peter Pan complex, but it's merited, dammit. Those films were awesome. So much 60s, 70s, 80s fun. Plus with songs!
I must share some of this goodness with you. Yes, a lot of it is ridiculous. ALL THE BETTER.
First off, "Buratino," the Russian take on the Pinocchio story. Not sure what to call it--basically, the author had read "Pinocchio" as a child and loved it, but since then forgot most of the story and just decided to re-tell it as best he could. (Apparently there's been some academic work done on this phenomenon in Soviet-era lit of re-writing Western works and its interaction with modern fandom and fanfic now.) So, you know, same basic conceit, totally different execution. For one thing, here dolls exist alongside human children and talking animals, so Buratino's wish to be like a "real boy" isn't rooted in bodily transformation. And his nose is perpetually long 'cause he likes it that way, and wouldn't let his carpenter-father whittle it down.
Here's a clip of him setting off home to his father after his first brief adventure, full of high-minded resolutions to be a proper, obedient son (obviously things come up along the way). How can it not make you smile?
Click to viewA whole slew of characters were introduced in the Russian reworking. One, a beautiful and very proper blue haired doll Malvina, insistent on educating/disciplining the rowdy Buratino, and her aristocratic French poodle. (Here played hilariously by a poufy-dressed boy.) Two, a runaway Pierrot doll, who's basically an emo stereotype 30 (or 70, if you go by the book's date) years too early. He's in search of Malvina, with whom he's tragically in love, but he is entirely ineffectual, and capable only of reciting bad poetry or singing pining love songs. In the book, although not in the movie, he also constantly bemoans his fate and threatens suicide. He's always shedding his makeup and crying. At first Malvina appreciates his extreme gentleness and manners, but eventually gets annoyed with his uselessness in the face of danger. Buratino is alternately amused and irritated by him. There's also a Harlequin and other minor characters, but they're not here so it doesn't much matter.
Buratino: Here, I brought him. Go on and "educate."
Pierrot: Oh, pardon the unworthy poet who allows himself to perform a song! This song is--for you.
Late at night all alone in the sky
So temptingly the moon shines
And I would wish to fetch it for you from the heavens
But what can I do? At night I must sleep!
**I don't need raspberries, I'm not afraid of getting sick,
In fact I don't fear anything, if only Malvina, if only Malvina...
Adored me and only me!**
At dawn, early in the morning
The sun hangs low in the sky
And I would wish to fetch it for you from the heavens
But what can I do? In the morning it's hard to wake up!
**repeat chorus**
Book illustrations:
I think I must have had 5 copies of this book because I recognize all but one of these editions.
I wanted to add clips from "The Snow Queen," but there was too much exposition and dialogue for non-Russian speakers.
Btw, I found films for stories I didn't even know got filmed, like "The Star Child" and other things. Did the Russians make children's films from every single children's story ever? When I go to Russian video stores, the children's films section is always pretty impressive. The funny thing is that there are cartoons of all these as well. Although I think the reason it seems like there is everything is that these films do not seem to pass out of circulation. Some of the cartoons I watched as a child were made in the 40s, and my parents saw them too, and I see them being shown on DVD to younger kids as well. Most of the other stuff I associate with "my" childhood was actually made during my parents' childhood or earlier.
Though Youtube documentaries tell me that children's films were indeed especially prolific in the Soviet era because they were usually safe from accusations of being anti-Soviet (and still not always). And they were supposedly allotted a bigger budget than other films, and yet apparently a lot of the actors in this one actually had to make/provide their own costumes!