Father Frost
Short description
This fantasy romance follows the journey of Nastenka, a kind young woman mistreated and eventually abandoned in a winter forest by her cruel stepmother. In the same woods, a boastful young man named Ivan is transformed into a bear by a magical entity due to his arrogance. To find one another and overcome their respective hardships, the pair must navigate various magical trials and encounters with folklore figures such as Baba Yaga and Father Frost.
Produced in the Soviet Union by Gorky Film Studios, the film was released on March 24, 1965. It was directed by Aleksandr Rou and written by Nikolay Erdman and Mikhail Volpin. The cast includes Natalya Sedykh as Nastenka, Eduard Izotov as Ivan, and Aleksandr Khvylia as Father Frost, with Georgi Millyar playing Baba Jaga. Inna Churikova and Vera Altayskaya also appear in the production, which features a credited cast of 24 performers. The movie has a runtime of 79 minutes and blends elements of comedy and family drama. On TMDB, the film holds a rating of 6.2/10 based on 132 votes.
What's left behind the scenes
- Tamara Nosova could have played the role of Marfusha-Dushenka. Alexander Rou chose between her and Inna Churikova, a student at the Shchepkin Theatre School, who was brought to the set by the director's assistant. During the auditions, they had to crack nuts, and Churikova cracked them, 'sparing no effort,' so Alexander Arturovich decided to film her.
- Most of the film was shot on the Kola Peninsula. The rest was shot near Zvenigorod, in the Moscow region.
- The actor who played Baba Yaga – Georgy Millar – literally saved the film from destruction. A pipe burst in the room where the footage was stored, and Millar, by chance, was the only one nearby. He carried the film out of the icy water practically in his underwear.
- After the film's release, Alexander Khvilya became the main Father Frost of the USSR and participated in this role at New Year's parties in the Kremlin.
- The film featured a dog named Druzhok, who previously starred in "The Tale of the Lost Time".
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Auditions in India
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Кастинги в Україні
