Alye parusa

Despite this story being beloved throughout post-Soviet countries and even has its own festival in St. Petersburg, "Scarlet Sails" is not very well-known outside of this region. The story is charming and has many qualities found in other fairytales. The 1961 film adaptation is also very faithful to the original story and it is something I recommend to anyone who enjoys classic movies or fairytales.

The film explores the characters of Assol and Arthur Grey as they grow up in different areas. Assol is the daughter of a toy maker who has been dubbed as "crazy" by her village. Assol herself has also been called crazy because she holds onto the belief that a self-proclaimed sorcerer has told her: when she grows up, a ship with red sails will come to her, and it will be captained by a prince who will love and cherish her. The attitudes of the people around Assol do not taint her optimistic spirit and she continues to think fondly of the man's magical prophecy. Arthur Grey, on the other hand, is the son of a stern count. Despite being the heir to a noble family, Grey's real passion is ships. He wishes to be captain of his own ship one day, and becomes so when he is much older. One day, he sails near Assol's village and the story progresses in a very romantic way. It is a very sweet story and I can see why people in Eastern Europe (my mom included) like this story so much. The movie is beautifully shot and gives you all the information you have to know in this rather simple story. It is only a little over an hour long and does not feel dragged out at all. The soundtrack by Igor Morozov is also very beautiful. It truly is just a wonderful classic film about hope and making miracles happen yourself that it's no wonder this story is so beloved in Eastern Europe. It is a story I would definitely show to kids of my own if I had any, as well as those who just want something light-hearted and wonderfully executed. As Assol says, "Everyone dreams."

"Alye Parusa" aka "Scarlet Sails" (1962) which is a screen adaptation of one of the most beautiful romantic, poetic, and charming books ever written (the link to the book "Scarlet Sails" by Alexander Green is provided on the Message Board for this film) is one of my favorite movies since childhood. It's been many years since I saw "Scarlet Sails" but it still has the same power over me. Watching it again recently, I realized how incredibly beautiful it is, how wonderfully directed by "Walt Disney of the Soviet Union", Alexander Ptushko who had made such masterpieces as "The Stone Flower", "Sadko" (1953), "The Tale of Tsar Saltan", "Ruslan and Ludmila, "The New Gulliver", and many more. The film tells the story of a little girl named Asole , who meets a wizard one day. He tells her that sometime in the future a ship with red sails will arrive -- to take her away to a new, happy life. She holds onto this prediction in spite of taunts and the ridicule of her neighbors…

Ruscico DVD is great. The film's images are fresh and joyful. The DVD includes Russian version with subtitles and dubbed to English and French versions. 16 years old Anastasiya Vertinskaya whom you may remember as Ophelia in Kozintzev's Gamlet plays Asole – it was her first role ever. Vaslily Lanovoy plays Arthur Grey , the young nobleman who dreamed of becoming a sea captain since he was a boy and who made Asole's dream come true by creating a miracle for her, the only miracle she had been waiting for all her life:

"I have come to the person who is waiting only for me. I want only her, perhaps for the precise reason that thanks to her I have been able to understand one simple truth, that so-called miracles are made with one's own hands."

"But there are other miracles: a smile, gladness, forgiveness, and a word which is needed and said in time. To experience them is to possess everything. As for Asole and me, we will remain forever in the glow of scarlet sails created in the depths of a heart that knows what love is…"

This opens like a Powell & Pressburger film with some glorious photography and musical accompaniment to kick-start an amiable fantasy adventure. It's all about the dreams of the young "Assol" (Yelena Cheremshanova) who has an encounter with a wizard who fills her head with what is seemingly the most impossible dream. She's young and impressionable, though, and very much takes to heart his promise that one day a proud ship will sail into their bay, bedecked in bright red sails, and carrying a prince who will sweep her off her feet. Of course, everyone else in the place is entirely sceptical of her dream but she (now Anastasia Vertinskaya) is determined never to let go of that hope, even though she is by now a fully-grown woman who is the desire of many would-be, if hardly catch-of-the month, suitors. The story is the stuff of fairly standard fairy tale, but Aleksandr Ptushko has pulled out all the stops to give us something that's heavy on the colourful and aesthetic creativity to great effect. The supporting cast manage to mingle the jovial with the decent and yep, there's the obvious cad or two amongst them who are determined that she will end up just like all the other's in their small fishing village. Perhaps it will be "Arthur" (the distinctly Olivier-esque Vasili Lanonvoy) who might just prove her salvation, and not without some considerable sacrifices of his own - all in the name of promises kept and true love's kiss. It's the ultimate feel-good movie this that allows our hearts to rule our heads, refuses to allow mundanity or reality to clutter it and though maybe it's a little long in the middle, shows off the lighter side of Soviet film making in a cheery and uncomplicated manner. I'm not too sure folks nowadays would be allowed to stand on the pier yelling "Assol" without the police being called? Maybe that's not such a good thing.

I came across this movie by chance, and what a lovely chance encounter! The production value was high, for it was easy to believe that what was seen was really a little Russian village by the sea. The ship must have been authentic, outfitted with no less than real, scarlett silk sails! The story is a simple fairy tale, following the adventurous hero and graceful heroine from childhood.

Sadly, this may not reach the audience it deserves. Perhaps that just as Western art students are reexamining Soviet creations without the political prejudice of times past, so too should these wonderful films come to light. I'd recommend this to anyone who appreciates classic storytelling.

This is simply the most beautiful and romantic film ever made. Even stranger, it was directed by Alexnadr Ptushko, known for his fantasy films and spacial effects. I guess he wanted a change of pace from his overblown spectacles. He succeeds beautifully.

This early 20th century novella is a classic in Russia yet, like The Wizard of Oz, the film is far better than the book. The two leads are outstanding and the girl who plays Assol is stunning! The musical score should be recorded. What a pity this is not known in the West.

If you like The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Random Harvest, The Bishop's Wife, One Way Passage and Somewhere in Time - and believe in miracles - this is the crown jewel.