Overview: What we get here are some gorgeous new restorations of three of Soviet-Armenian director Lev Atamanov’s most beloved films: THE SNOW QUEEN, THE SCARLET FLOWER and THE KEY.

Blu-ray Verdict: First up is THE SNOW QUEEN (SNEZHNAYA KOROLEVA) - 1957, 65 min. Lev Atamanov’s sublime and often terrifyingly beautiful masterpiece, based on a Hans Christian Andersen story, follows a resourceful young girl, Gerda (voiced by Yanina Zheymo), as she embarks on an epic journey to save her friend Kay (Anna Komolova) from the frozen embraces of the magnificent Snow Queen (Mariya Babanova).

A favorite of Hayao Miyazaki who said the film inspired him to become an animator - and it’s easy to see the direct influence of THE SNOW QUEEN on characters and storylines in CASTLE IN THE SKY, PRINCESS MONONOKE and SPIRITED AWAY.

As we know by now, this is the Russian version. Walt Disney made a version based on Hans Christian Anderson’s story in 1960 and refused to let it be shown after just a few short years. I will never understand their decision. I like it much better than Disney’s 21st century version called Frozen.

The 1960 Disney version was even better than this Russian version which was first shown in 1957. But the Russian version is superb without any drippy sentimentality.

The Russian version is sort of like a ballet. It feels like the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. By that I mean it is a more faithful version of Hans Christian Anderson’s story than anything else I have watched except perhaps that 1960 version from Disney. This movie really was created for older people or children with advanced viewing acumen.

Next up is THE SCARLET FLOWER (ÁLENKIY TSVETÓTCHEK) - 1952, 42 min. Dir. Lev Atamanov. An almost impossibly lovely, bejeweled fantasy adventure, a mixture of Ptushko’s THE STONE FLOWER and SADKO with Cocteau’s BEAUTY & THE BEAST. A ship’s captain promises his youngest daughter Nastenka (voiced by Nina Krachkovskaya) a scarlet flower as a gift. But when he plucks it, the enraged beast who owns it demands a sacrifice - and Nastenka offers herself up as the monster’s prisoner on an enchanted isle.

Considering that Beauty and the Beast is such a timeless story and that Russian animation and filmmaking 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 favorites from Russia (and there are some great Russian animations).

The animation is rich and elegant, I especially loved the colors and the wonders of the island which contrasted beautifully with the dark haunting colors 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 flavor 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. Oh, and I also liked that the monster was very foreboding but in an understated sort of way. In conclusion, a true beauty in every way.

Lastly comes THE KEY. (KLYUCH) - 1961, 58 min. Atamanov’s delightfully quirky gem is one of his most surprising efforts, a surreal parable about the benefits of Magic vs. the value of Good Hard Work. Three wonderfully wacky fairies come to bless a newborn child with the gift of an enchanted ball of yarn - but the boy’s no-nonsense grandfather (voiced by A. Glushchenko) wants to give him more practical gifts, like common sense, a good hammer and a strong work ethic.

THE KEY is told in a totally different visual style than Atamanov’s lush earlier works, closer to the angular mid-century modern look of UPA circa Gerald McBoing Boing and Mr. Magoo.

This Soviet animated short tells the story of a child who is magically granted life-long happiness. His Grandfather is concerned that happiness unearned is a problem, and seeks guidance from a friend who is an inventor with a lab full of robots. The robots can’t agree on whether easy happiness is a blessing or a curse, so the Grandfather embarks on a magical journey to determine the possible consequences.

This is fantasy, morality tale and Soviet ideology all rolled into one. Animated in a flat, sketchy style common to the 1960s, the themes nonetheless remain timely. At almost an hour, it’s possibly too long for this type of story, but it comes to a satisfying, quite touching conclusion. Lots going on and lots to like.

The Key - Lev Atamanov (1961 Canola Wars Мф Ключ Mix)

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