Ep #50 - The Soviet Fairy Tales of Aleksandr Rou in the 60s
Barbara the Fair with the Silken Hair (1970)
Once upon a time, in a magical red world behind an iron curtain, there existed a very special man named Aleksandr Rou. Born to two foreign-born parents, Rou worked his way up from the stage to become one of Russia’s most celebrated film directors. But Rou wasn’t any ol’ director; he focused primarily on fantasy and fairy tale films for children – building up worlds of magical witches, talking animals, underwater kingdoms, gilded palaces, silken costumes, wicked warlocks and proletariat heroes.
Leaning heavily on traditional folktales at a time where being regionally unique was frowned upon, Rou’s career brilliantly walked the line between old and new to appease both nostalgia and social revolution. His popularity throughout the land was immense and he became an influence to a host of contemporary directors. And he lived happily ever after…. until one day, not so far into the 1970s, he died. The end.
In this episode, Bart and Jenna just soak it all in. This is the decade of Rou in his prime – from the fantastical tales with some questionable lessons for children, to the brilliantly designed technicolor madness of these costumes and sets. Yeah okay, sometimes some baffling culture shock too, but just enjoy!
The following films are discussed:
• Maria the Wonderful Weaver (1960)
Марья-искусница
Directed by Aleksandr Rou
Starring Ninel Myshkova, Viktor Perevalov, Anatoliy Kubatskiy
• Cinderella (1961)
Хрустальный башмачок
Directed by Aleksandr Rou & Rostislav Zakharov
Starring Raisa Struchkova, Gennadi Ledyakh, Elena Vanke
• Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka (1961)
Вечера на хуторе близ Диканьки
Directed by Aleksandr Rou
Starring Aleksandr Khvylya, L. Myznikova, Yuri Tavrov
• Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors (1963)
Королевство Кривых Зеркал
Directed by Aleksandr Rou
Starring Olga Yukina, Tatyana Yukina, Tatyana Barysheva
• Jack Frost (1964)
Морозко
Directed by Aleksandr Rou
Starring Aleksandr Khvylya, Natalya Sedykh, Eduard Izotov
• Through Fire, Water, and… Brass Pipes (1968)
Огонь, вода и… медные трубы
Directed by Aleksandr Rou
Starring Natalya Sedykh, Aleksei Katyshev, Georgiy Millyar
• Barbara the Fair With the Silken Hair (1970)
Варвара-краса, длинная коса
Directed by Aleksandr Rou
Starring Mikhail Pugovkin, Georgiy Millyar, Anatoliy Kubatskiy
