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Ruslan and Ludmilla Alexander Ptushko Based on a poem by Alexander Pushkin, this epic fantasy concerns a princess kidnapped by an evil sorcerer on the day of her wedding. Her father, the king, annuls the marriage to Prince Ruslan because he failed to protect Princess Ludmilla. The king offers her hand to the man who rescues his daughter. Can Ruslan redeem himself and win back his bride? "What an incredible treat for the senses...Aleksandr Ptushko weaves a truly magical tapestry of cinematic delights" (Filmmaker). Includes Russian, English and French soundtrack options, with English and multilingual subtitle option, and the documentary, Pushkin's Manuscripts. USSR 1972 139 mins. DVD | $69.95
Barbara the Fair with the Silken Hair Aleksandr Rou Based on elements from Russian folk tales, this appealing feature involves the title character (actually named Varvara in the original Russian) in a magical adventure that starts when a tsar named Yeremey takes a long journey to survey all he owns. The underwater tsar, Chudo-Yudo, kidnaps him and demands a ransom from his family. Intrigue, treachery and plenty of fun follow. The DVD includes Russian, English and French language and subtitle options. USSR, 1969, 85 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Donkey's Hide Nadezhda Kosheverova Veteran Soviet filmmaker Nadezhda Kosheverova directs this delightful family film based on the Charles Perrault fairy tale. Amidst beautiful production and costume design, the story of the star-crossed love between Princess Therese and Prince Jacques unfolds. When Therese's evil stepmother forbids her from marrying Jacques, the princess flees with the help of her fairy godmother and a magical donkey. Disguised as a beggar and without her royal dowry, Therese still manages to hold the young prince's heart. The DVD is letterboxed and includes documentaries on director Nadezhda Kosheverova and Lenfilm Film Studio, a Charles Perrault biography, and cast and crew filmographies. In Russian with English subtitles. Russia, 1982, 85 mins. DVD | $44.95
Father Frost Aleksandr Rou Director Aleksandr Rou's fairy tales for the screen have been praised by Steven Spielberg and scores of other filmmakers who recognize his mastery with film fantasy. In this film, based on a popular Russian folk story, a girl mistreated by her wicked stepmother is banished to a winter forest. There she meets and falls in love with a handsome lad, but he is turned into a bear for his constant boasting. The girl and her new love turn to Father Frost to set things right. The DVD has Russian, English and French soundtrack options, with English and multilingual subtitle options, and includes trailers, production stills, interview with actress Natalya Sedykh, clip from 1924 version of Father Frost, 3 audio-only songs from the film, and archival materials from the Ruscico Museum. USSR, 1965, 81 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Golden Horns Aleksandr Rou A whimsical adaptation of popular Russian fairy tales from the acclaimed director of children's films, Aleksandr Rou. The witch Baba Yaga kidnaps two young girls and transforms them into does. The girls' mother sets out on a magical quest to find them, aided by the Sun, the Moon, the Wind and the Deer with the Golden Horns. In Russian with English subtitles. The DVD is letterboxed, and includes an interview, a short documentary on Alexander Row, behind-the-scenes shorts, filmographies and Russian, English and French language tracks. Russia, 1972, 74 mins. DVD | $44.95
Ilya Muromets Alexander Ptushko Alexander Ptushko's 1956 classic is Soviet filmmaking on an epic scale: the first widescreen feature ever produced in the USSR, Ptushko's fantasy adventure also set an all-time world cinema record by employing 106,000 extras and 11,000 horses in its battle scenes. Boris Andreyev plays the questing title character, a mythical Russian hero of the Middle Ages who challenges fearsome monsters including Nightingale the Robber and Gorynych the Serpent. Spectacular both in scope and execution, Ptushko's film is an enduring classic. In Russian with English subtitles. The DVD is letterboxed and includes K. Stolyarov: Remembering My Father featurette, The Fairy Tale World of Alexander Ptushko documentary, filmographies, and photo gallery. USSR, 1956, 94 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors Aleksandr Rou Another visually imaginative and enchanting children's fantasy film from the underrated Aleksander Rou (Father Frost). Through an old magic mirror, young Olya meets her own reflection, Yalo. Together they embark on a journey into a kingdom of crooked mirrors, where normal mirrors are outlawed because evil and dishonest people cannot face their true selves. In Russian with English subtitles. The DVD includes optional French and Arabic audio, multilingual subtitle options, interview with actor Andrei Stapran, photo album, and cast & crew filmographies. USSR, 1963, 80 mins. DVD | $44.95
Lady with the Dog Josef Heifitz Based on Chekhov, and directed by the Russian master of Chekhov adaptations, Josef Heifitz, this bittersweet, nostalgic story opens in Yalta at the beginning of the century. A middle-aged bank official on vacation encounters a beautiful young woman named Anna who each day walks her dog along the promenade. They drift into an affair, part, return to their homes and unhappy marriages, but Dmitri is haunted by Anna's memory and the two arrange clandestine meetings, realizing that they are doomed to a life of brief, secret encounters. Includes Village Doctor featurette, A Film about Lenfilm featurette, reminiscences of the writer's wife, actress O. Knipper-Chekhova, reminiscences of writer N. Teleshov, filmographies, and photo album. Russian with English subtitles. USSR, 1960, 86 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Little Mermaid Vladimir Bychkov Hans Christian Andersen's beloved fairy tale was brought to the screen in a delightful and faithful fashion with this Russian family film. Beautiful Galina Volchek plays the title character in a movie that boasts impressive production values and wonderful costumes. In Russian with English subtitles. Includes optional French or English audio and subtitles. USSR, 1976, 81 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Princess and the Pea Boris Rytsarev Hans Christian Anderson's heartwarming fairy tale was brought to the screen in this lush production from the director of Aladdin's Magic Lamp. A fine example of the skillfully directed, imaginatively designed children's films that the Soviet Union turned out during the '60s and '70s. The DVD is letterboxed, with Russian, English and French language options with English and multilingual subtitle options. Includes trailers, production stills, filmography and music score excerpt. USSR, 1976, 89 mins. DVD | $44.95
Sadko Alexander Ptushko Alexander Ptushko's colorful fantasy follows the seafaring adventures of the bearded hero from Novgorod, who must find and capture the elusive Bird of Happiness in order to free the city from an oppressive despot. Based on the eponymous Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov opera, Sadko was later re-edited and re-dubbed for a 1962 release in the U.S. under the title The Magic Voyage of Sinbad. Includes two featurettes and the documentary The Fairy-Tale World of Alexander Ptushko. In Russian with English subtitles. USSR 1952 90 mins. DVD | $44.95
Scarlet Sails Alexander Ptushko Soviet director Alexander Ptushko adds his trademark visual charm to this romantic fairy tale, based on the novel by Alexander Grin. The magic begins when a wizard tells young Assol that a red-sailed ship will arrive one day to take her away to a new happy life with a dashing prince. She grows up waiting for her ship, despite the taunts of neighbors and friends. Meanwhile, a young lad who loves Assol grows up to become a sea captain with plans to make her dreams come true. The DVD is letterboxed and closed-captioned, and includes interviews with actors Vassily Lanovoy and Oleg Anofriev. Dubbed in English. USSR 1961 88 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Snow Maiden Pavel Kadochnikov The Snow Maiden, daughter of Father Frost and Spring, leans toward the icy side of her upbringing, but her cold heart begins to melt when she meets handsome Lel. Through his love, she begins to see the wonders and warmth of the world. As with many Russian fairy tale films of the period, this joyful feature boasts imaginative production design and striking cinematography. Based on a story by A.N. Ostrovsky. The DVD is letterboxed, 16x9 widescreen, and includes optional English and French dubbed audio, multilingual subtitle options, interviews, photos, filmographies, and a short documentary about A.N. Ostrovsky. In Russian with English subtitles. USSR, 1968, 93 mins. DVD | $44.95
Snow Queen Gennadi Kasanki A fine, faithful adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, in which a young girl must use all the love in her heart to win a battle with the icy, evil Snow Queen. A nice combination of theatrical and cinematic devices make this a very enjoyable tale for young and old. The DVD includes options for French and English audio and subtitles. In Russian with English subtitles. USSR, 1966, 85 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Tale of Time Lost Alexander Ptushko As a director, writer, animator and special effects designer, Alexander Ptushko was responsible for some of the most visually impressive fantasy films of Russian cinema. Here he brings to life a fairy tale about four old sorcerers who trade places with four lazy schoolchildren in order to regain their youth. Later, the kids discover that they can only change back to their former selves at an exact time and place or they will be stuck with the short remaining years of the sorcerers. The DVD is letterboxed, and includes Russian, English and French language options with optional English and multilingual subtitle options; also includes the documentary, The Fairy World of Alexander Ptushko. USSR, 1964, 80 mins. DVD | $44.95
The Tale of Tsar Saltan Alexander Ptushko An extravagant fantasy film based on the fairy tale by Alexander Pushkin, this feature demonstrates the considerable, and often overlooked, talent of Ukrainian director and former animator Alexander Ptushko. This is a colorful, beautifully designed feature that brings an appropriately magical feel to a story of royal love, jealousy, evil schemes, and the miracle of the swan princess. The DVD includes Russian, English and French soundtrack options, with optional English and multilingual subtitles; also includes special features on director Aleksandr Ptushko. A real delight. USSR, 1966, 87 mins. DVD | $44.95
Through Fire, Water and...Brass Pipes Aleksandr Rou In this fairy tale based on an old Russian saying, our hero must go through several trials to win back the woman he loves. When she is kidnapped by the immortals' underling Kashchei, the brave Vasya must stand to the test in order to find her. His most significant challenge may be withstanding the glaring lights of glory. The DVD is letterboxed, and includes Russian, English and French language and subtitle options. USSR, 1968, 86 mins. DVD | $44.95
Vassilisa the Beautiful Aleksandr Rou This early film from Aleksandr Rou (Father Frost) is a spirited, costumed fairy tale about the power of love. Monsters, witches and dragons populate the land where the young Ivanushka finds a special frog. He soon learns that the frog is actually the beautiful Vassilisa, who was transformed when she refused to marry the evil Gorynych the Serpent. In Russian with English subtitles. Includes an interview with Kirill Stolyarov and a featurette. USSR, 1939, 72 mins. DVD | $44.95
