Snezhnaya koroleva (The Snow Queen) (1957)

"The Snow Queen"
(Снежная королева)
Review by: Doug Nau

Rating: *****/5

Directed by: Lev Atamanov
Nikolay Petrovich Fyodorov


Produced by: Lev Atamanov

Written by: Nikolai Erdman
Lev Atamanov
Georgiy Grebner
Nikolay Zabolotskiy (1957 lyrics)

Based on the Fairytale by: Hans Christian Andersen "The Snow Queen"

Starring: Vladimir Gribkov
T. Linnik
Anna Komolova
Galina Kozhakina
Mariya Babanova
M. Sinelnikova
Sergei Martinson
Yelena Ponsova
Vera Bendina
Yanina Zheymo
Yudif Glizer
V. Popova
Alexey Konsovskiy
Irina Murzayeva
M. Svetlova

Score Composed by: Artemiy Ayvazyan

The Snow Queen is based on Hans Christian Andersen's fable about a cold-hearted queen of the frozen north who steals away young Kay and takes him to her ice palace. Kay's (Anna Komolova)friend Gerda(Yanina Zheymo)gets worried when Kay does not come home, and so she sets out to find him. Along the way, she meets an eccentric flower woman (V. Popova), a prince (Vera Bendina)and a princess(T. Linnik), a magical reindeer (Alexey Konsovskiy), a talking court raven(Yelena Ponsova), and many other fantastic characters. Once Gerda discovers that Kay is in the Snow Queen's (Mariya Babanova) palace, she has to find some way to save him in spite of the formidable queen. (Mannikka)

A Russian animated foreign film produced by Soyuzmultfilm studio is a lavishing and magical overlooked gem that is very poetically written. The story is one of the most beautiful love story I've ever seen with a compelling female protagonist Gerda, very determined and strong-willed young girl not going to just wait for someone rescues and save her best friend Kay cursed and kidnapped by The Snow Queen a Heartless cruel person who make kay forget everything in his past. The Snow Queen is the most beautifully drawn villain I've ever seen and one of my favorites. Ol Dreamy the narrator of the movie who uses his magical umbrella to cause Han to sleep and dream wonderful stories, which he then writes as fairy tales.He really reminds me a lot of Jimmy Cricket from Pinocchio.

The Score by Artemiy Ayvazyan has composed such a lush and wonderful score evokes the beauty of the movies. The animation is also gorgeously drawn and very fluid in movement that feels dated but still a work of art.Although the sound effects is rather poorly done and low key. The character voices overs are all very good but the standout being Mariya Babanova (The Snow Queen)who brings such dimensions to the very isolated villain. Other worthy voice overs are Vladimir Gribkov (Ol Dreamy) Alexey Konsovskiy (Deer), Sergei Martinson and Yelena Ponsova (The Raven & Court Raven), and Yanina Zheymo(Gerda).

So overall this is a masterpiece one of the most beautifully told fairy tale I've ever seen up their with Beauty and the Beast. The Characters are so compelling and engaging.
Soyuzmultfilm have produced a classic gem for all ages.

Work Cited
Mannikka, Eleanor. "Movie Info". www.Rottentomatoes.com. Flexster, Inc., n.d. Web. 20 July 2012.