Rusalka

each film of Aleksander Petrov is a gem. it is a basic rediscovered truth discovered again and again. and not only the special technique is the explanation. but a sort of spell. Rusalka is a simple story about faith, temptation and sacrifice. but the manner to remind more than presents aspects from Russian folklore, Orthodox Church's life, feelings who are the most inspired translation in the frames of oil colors on glass are the axis of the profound emotion who grows up. a story about Christianity who could be page from the Patericon. but who has the gift to becomes, scene by scene, reflection of yourself. because it is simple - the forms of love, the duty, the voices from different ages, the salvation as fruit of sacrifice. and the beginning of real life. a film like a medicine. useful when the present becomes a mermaid.

With death closing in on him quickly, an elderly monk regales to his novice a story of his youth. It was the height of winter with snow and ice everywhere when he spotted a young girl floating in the river. He manages to drag her out then goes to fetch her some warm clothing. Upon his return he finds she has gone. Many months later, he is fishing when she pays him a more lively visit and they fall in love - but his own elderly master is watching over him and so, well... With Jacob's ladder bringing the short story to an end, what did actually happen to our would-be couple? Culminating in a threatening storm sequence, there is much religiosity to this story with many of the animations of the older characters looking like they'd been drawn by Michelangelo. Dark and grainy images, this time augmented by some powerful audio, make for a compelling ten minutes of drama from Aleksandr Petrov.

As somebody who's very fond of Russian animation, Rusalka(aka Mermaid) has to be one of the most beautiful and fascinating of any Russian animated film or short. The high point is the animation, it is hard to put into words how truly gorgeous it is, not only is an animation style unlike any seen before in animation(oil paints on glass) but every frame and movement flows so smoothly it's almost dream-like. There is so much atmosphere in the setting, and the vast details and the way the colours are used were a visual feast. The music is soothing, almost like it's coming from a distance, and wisely sparingly used, while the sound effects are truly evocative and add so much to that magical dream-like effect. While it is understandable why anybody would have difficulty following the story(particularly if you are unfamiliar with the Slavic folklore tale it's based on), it wasn't a problem for me and the hauntingly gentle mood conveyed in the short is really to be admired, while the ending was incredibly poignant and stayed with me for a while after. The characters are very well drawn and expressively characterised(facial expressions and gestures rather than vocal, particularly good in this regard was for Rusalka) and carry Rusalka beautifully. In conclusion, a breathtaking Russian short film. 10/10 Bethany Cox

While I am a huge fan of Pixar and have complained in a few of my reviews when I felt some of their shorts were unfairly snubbed by the Oscars (especially for KNICK KNACK), here I actually think the winning short for 1998 (Pixar's GERI'S GAME) wasn't nearly as good a film as Petrov's MERMAID--which was also nominated but somehow came up short.

Russian director Aleksandr Petrov has been nominated for several Oscars for Best Animated Short Film--such as for THE COW and THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA. Each features a style totally unlike any other studio, as Petrov's shorts are like little epic movies and moving tapestries combined. I am not exaggerating to say that his films are much more works of art than films--and you could never call them cartoons! I will try to describe the style, but frankly the only way to really appreciate them is to see one yourself. The artwork is like a painting that moves in a very fluid style--like the wind is pushing the scenes.

a perfect film. seems be a too large definition but it has all pieces for be more than wonderful animation, pure Aleksandr Petrov high work but a magnificent story who remember the Russian mythology, the air of Orthodox Church,who presents , in wise manner, the temptation and the love in its so different nuances as not exactly as show but as touching source of love sense. it has the gift to impress in a profound manner. to give a form of beauty who could be not just aesthetic but perfect lesson about important things. it seems be enough - it is one of Aleksander Petrov short animation. but, like each of his films, it is not only animation. maybe a testimony about force and delicacy, about heart and fascination of existence. presented after a work who could be , for many from us, unrealistic, a sacrifice itself.