Before going on an overseas journey, a merchant father asks his three daughters what they would like him to bring back for them. The eldest asks for a shining tiara, the middle asks for a frame through which her face would always appear young, and the youngest (Nastenka) asks her father to bring her a beautiful scarlet flower like one which she saw in her dreams. Her elder sisters laugh at this simple wish. The father's trip is successful and he finds everything that he came for, with the exception of Nastenka's scarlet flower. Nevertheless, the ship heaves off and they begin to head back while the father scans the lands around him for a scarlet flower.
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"Alenkiy tsvetochek" or "The Scarlet Flower" is a Soviet animated movie from 1952, so next year it will have its 65th anniversary already. It was directed by Lev Atamanov and written by Aksakov and Grebner. When people talk about the Golden Age of Soviet Animation, they are rarely referring to a time as early as the 1950s (this would still be the American prime), but this film here, which runs for 40 minutes, is a good example of how Russian animation was pretty strong that early already. It's definitely on par with what America had to offer at that time, even if it is an entirely different approach. It's the Soviet version of Beauty and the Beast, a famous Disney movie from much much later and you will not find too many similarities or parallels between these films. But this one here succeeds in its own right. The story is pretty interesting, it almost never drags and the animation is stunning and the visual beauty of this film is probably the best thing about it. Make sure you get subtitles, if you don't speak Russian. I recommend the watch. Thumbs up.
Considering that Beauty and the Beast is such a timeless story and that Russian animation and film-making fascinates me, they were reasons enough to make me want to see The Scarlet Flower. I am so happy I did, because this was a truly beautiful animation and one of my favourites from Russia(and there are some great Russian animations). The animation is rich and elegant, I especially loved the colours and the wonders of the island which contrasted beautifully with the dark haunting colours of the first encounter with the monster. The music is both beautiful and stirring with somewhat at times a Rimsky-Korsakov influence. The dialogue is very literate and noble, the translation is not the best but it doesn't spoil the mood at all. The story is very true in detail and spirit to the Beauty and the Beast story while adding a distinctive Russian flavour to it, much of it was very moving too like the ending and the father's stay on the island/first encounter with the monster were remarkably mysterious. The characters are always engaging, Nastenka is very easy to relate to and I liked the sincerity of the father, and the voice acting is pitched perfectly, I did like that the monster was very foreboding but in an understated sort of way. In conclusion, a true beauty in every way. 10/10 Bethany Cox