Original subtitles

VASILISA THE BEAUTIFUL

Written by T. VLADYCHINA O. NECHAYEVA, V. SHVEITSER

Directed by Aleksandr ROU

Director of Photography I. GORCHILIN

Production Designer V. YEGOROV

Music by L. POLOVINKIN

Sound by N. OZORNOV

English Subtitles by T. Kameneva & Vania

Starring

G. MILLYAR as Father

S. STOLYAROV as Ivan, Youngest Son

L. POTYOMKIN as Agafon, Middle Son

N. KONDRATYEV as Anton, Eldest Son

V. SOROGOZHSKAYA as Vasilisa, Peasant's Daughter

I. ZARUBINA as Malanya, Merchant's Daughter

L. SUKHAREVSKAYA as Belyandrasa, Nobleman's Daughter

Here's a tale for your amusement...

A beautiful tale...

There're marvelous marvels in it,

and wondrous wonders...

As well as the folk wisdom.

Listen, brothers, what an odd thing has happened to me!

I fell behind you and walked off the path.

Suddenly I saw something, hop-hop!

A fox?

A hare?

A squirrel!

Some beast!

I rushed after it, it dashed from me.

It climbed on top of a tree and sat there without a stir.

I spread the branches apart and shot an arrow...

Well?

Got neither the arrow, nor the squirrel.

Oh, Ivashka, you poor bumpkin!

I went on, and suddenly heard a stirring in the grass.

A snake?

No.

- A pop-eyed frog? - No!

A marten!

You're lying!

I went after it, it darted from me.

It took to the right, I, to the left.

It ran longwise, I, crosswise. I drew my bow and sent an arrow.

Well?

Well?

I got neither the arrow, nor the marten.

- You loser! - You poor shot!

To soothe my sorrow, I gathered some mushrooms.

Look, brothers.

That's Ivashka the poor bumpkin for you!

Now take my bag home, and I'll hunt a bit more.

Where're you going? Away! Away!

What are you doing, you damned goat!

Shoo! Shoo!

You goddamned cock!

What can I do with you?

Such bad luck! Such bad luck!

So, no borsht and no porridge. And I am starved!

It's awful! No dinner again.

Why are you frowning like turkey-cocks?

I told you to get married, then you can call your wives to account.

Get married... Marrying is not putting a bast shoe on.

You marry once, but you suffer a lifetime.

Hush! If you're too wary, you'll never get to marry.

Don't contradict your father!

This is my final word! I'm not cooking for you any more.

If we marry, we'll be in for trouble.

We'll have to get married. We don't want to die of hunger.

Take your bows, sons,

let's go outside and try our luck.

The yard your bow hits, that's where you'll look for your bride.

Shall we go, brother Agafon?

Well, let's go, brother Anton.

Oh, my sweetheart...

Oh, my sweetheart...

The marksman's arrow,

fly in the air, and find your way to the bride's gate.

That's him!

The marksman's arrow, fly in the air,

and find your way to the bride's gate.

Mother Praskoveya, please find a groom for me who is kind.

Let me try, too.

Why? You are too young.

Oh, you're good for nothing, Ivashka.

Go now and look for your intended.

Go! Go!

Hey, make way!

What?

Make way for me!

- You mean me? - I mean you!

I, a nobleman's daughter,

shall make way for you, an uncouth merchant's daughter?

If you don't turn off the road, I'll pull all your hair out.

No, I won't make way!

Look, the noblewoman got all swollen from her haughtiness.

And the merchant one clears the way with her belly.

Bend your neck, or you'll puncture the sky with your head.

You shaft!

And you, big tub, have occupied half the road.

Look at those brides... They're going to fight.

How was your trip, Belyandrasa Petrovna?

Bumpy and dusty.

I hope you weren'tjolted about, Malanya Savvishna?

I'm exhausted. It was hot and stuffy. Just awful.

Look at that bride... As bright as the sun.

As fair as the moon.

- Slippery. - Cold.

Hush!

She may live in the bog,

but we hold everyone in equal honour.

She's crying, isn't she?

She's just a frog, but she's shedding tears like a human.

Don't cry, poor thing.

I won't let anyone hurt you.

And now, dear brides, do your chores.

- What chores? - And when will be the wedding?

First I have to see if you are fit to be the men's wives.

Can you work?

Take your scythes, sons, let's go mowing.

The night promises to be bright.

And you, dear brides, get to your work.

Reap the wheat and arrange it in sheaves.

We'll be back in the morning.

Did you hear it?

- What the old man said? - What?

If we're fit to be the men's wives?

How did he have the nerve to say it, the old fork?

Reaping the wheat!

I've never troubled my hands with anything. That old wrinkled mushroom!

Stop grabbing what's mine!

Big deal! I've got a trunk full of silver as my dowry!

And I've got pillows of pure swan's down!

Let me feel them.

Let me peep into your trunk.

A cockroach!

You liar! You've got nothing in your trunk!

Braggart!

It's just bast fiber!

The frog!

- Let's throw her out of the window. - Let's do it!

- What is it? - A maiden.

Where did she come from?

The frog's skin!

Could the frog turn into a maiden?

And such a beautiful maiden!

That's because of the frog's skin.

I wish I could put it on and become a beauty.

- Let's steal it. - Yes.

- What shall we do? - Keep mum.

- Give it to me! - It's mine!

I won't give up! I won't let you have it!

It's mine!

It ripped!

It burst!

What shall we do?

Let's burn the skin.

- Let's do it. - Let's do it.

Three brothers were moving In a green ravine,

Three brothers were moving, Three brothers of kin.

Flow, the river, to a wide blue sea,

To a wide blue sea, to a wide blue sea,

To a clear green field, to a clear green field,

Carry our song to our dear native land.

Over the river, over the river, In a green ravine,

Three brothers were mowing In a green ravine,

Three brothers were mowing, Three brothers were mowing,

Three brothers were mowing, Three brothers of kin...

What shall we do?

Keep mum.

Well, show your work, dear brides.

Are we to praise or reproach you?

We didn't sleep a wink. Working all night.

- Without respite. - Without a break.

- There is our work! - There!

That's fine brides! They'll make good wives!

We'll have the wedding today!

That's the end of us!

Who are you, fair maiden?

Me? I'm your bride, Vassilisa.

I was kidnapped by Gorynych the Serpent.

He got angry when I didn't agree to be his wife.

He turned me into a frog and told me to live in the bog for three years.

Soon the term would have expired.

But the human spite interfered.

They've burned my frog's skin.

Therefore I have to go back to captivity.

We're not destined to be happy together, Ivanushka.

Don't be afraid, fair maid. I'll protect you.

So that's what it is!

Do you hear, Ivanushka, how earth is groaning?

That's Gorynych the Serpent flying to get me.

Vassilisa!

Ivanushka!

Vassilisa, my dear!

Farewell, Ivanushka!

That's right, sons,

see your brides off, so that they never come back

and never disgrace me at my old age.

Good riddance!

Pave your way with swan's down!

Submit to it, my son. It fell to your lot to have this misfortune.

I'll never submit.

I won't let the cruel Serpent have Vassilisa.

I'll find the maid even if she's at the bottom of the sea!

It's inconceivable to win over the Serpent.

Is there nothing at all that can kill him?

That's a different story, my son.

Beyond the Thrice-Nine Land, in a dense forest,

there grow three mighty oak trees.

Three oak trees...

As the cuckoo cries three times,

look for a well by those oak trees.

At the bottom of the well, behind an oak door

with a huge lock, a slaying sword is hidden.

Only you need a key to that lock.

Where is that key?

People know about that.

Go around the world and ask people.

It's hard for me to part with you, Ivanushka.

But I guess I can't keep you.

It took Ivan a long time to walk around his native land

in search of the magic sword.

Hello, blacksmith!

Hello, good man!

Where are you going?

Where I am going, that's for me to know.

Well, sit down, be my guest.

I need a key that would open a huge lock.

Can you forge one for me?

The blacksmith cannot forge good sense for the one who hasn't got it.

What do you need that key for?

With that key I want to get a slaying sword

to fight Gorynych the Serpent!

How about that...

The key to all locks

is a fearless heart.

You'd better listen to what people say.

That key is kept in a golden egg,

the golden egg is in a blue-gray duck,

the blue-gray duck is in a crystal chest,

and the crystal chest

is on a tall pine-tree!

Thank you for your kind words. Goodbye.

In the Serpent's realm,

Vassilisa the Beautiful was guarded by Baba Yaga.

So you won't marry Gorynych the Serpent?

No, I won't.

Stupid girl!

Look what life awaits you if you resign yourself to his will.

Here, your suitor sent you all these gifts.

Try it on, Vassilisa dear.

Try it on, honey.

It doesn't suit me to dress up like a doll.

All right, then.

I'll lock you up, dear,

then you won't be so obstinate.

Haven't you suffered enough?

I guess you're dying to get free?

Come on, let's go.

Have you changed your mind?

Will you marry Gorynych the Serpent?

It will never be!

Then you'd better know!

Your barefooted Ivashka was on his way here to rescue you,

but he got drowned on the way.

That's not true!

Then ask a crawling snake, a roving wolf, a swamp frog.

Everyone in the forest knows it.

Whether he is dead or alive, I'll never forget him.

Vassilisa!

Ivanushka!

Ivanushka!

I've lost all hope of ever seeing you again.

I have only one night to live.

Tomorrow at dawn Gorynych the Serpent will be here.

Baba Yaga prepares the wedding.

Don't worry, Vassilisa, we'll do everything before the morn.

I only have to find the well.

You say, the well?

Isn't it the well that Baba Yaga is hiding in the thicket?

- Where is it? - Over there.

Go look for it.

Never before have I smelled the blood of a Russian here.

And now a Russian spirit

has appeared here in person.

How can a Russian spirit be here?

Well, watch out if you lied to me.

Honey.

Here is a wedding dress for you.

Go ahead, put it on.

Tomorrow you'll be wed to Gorynych the Serpent.

Thank you, Grandma. It's so beautiful!

Why, you're so obedient.

You don't look like yourself. Here, put it on.

Get ready for tomorrow.

Run away from here, Ivanushka. A terrible death awaits you here.

Don't worry, Vassilisa, as soon as the cuckoo cries three times...

It's time.

This night will decide everything.

Don't think ill of me if anything.

Goodbye, Ivanushka!

Goodbye!

Goodbye, Bruins!

Good for you, Bruin, you held it tight!

Wait!

Guess three riddles.

You guess them right, you get the sword,

you don't guess them, you keep your head not.

What's the fastest thing in the world?

An arrow.

The wind!

Lightning!

That's better.

Honey.

Who?

Who was here?

It was your Ivashka again.

Where's he hiding? Tell me!

You won't?

I'll make you say it anyway.

If not I, then the fire will loosen your tongue.

Now guess

the last riddle.

What's the dearest thing in the world?

Vassilisa.

Life!

Life is the dearest thing!

Right.

That's Ivashka the poor bumpkin for you!

We must make it before dawn.

Come on, Sivka the Steed, run! Don't spare your hooves!

You'll talk like a lamb when there's a smell of burning!

There, Gorynych the Serpent himself is flying.

I'll have something to treat myself to.

The steed for dinner,

the lad for supper!

Hey, you, ugly monster!

You can't eat a white swan before catching it!

You don't have a chance fighting with me!

You barefooted peasant,

a country bumpkin.

Slaying sword, do me a favour, cut the enemy's heads off!

That's the end of your barefooted Ivashka.

No, it'll never be!

But if so, you go to hell too!

That's the barefooted peasant for you, that's the country bumpkin.

Ivanushka!

Now we go back home, to our native land.

THE END � Vergilarchivum 2019