La fleur de pierre

I saw The Stone Flower as somebody who really liked some of Aleksandr Ptusko's other films like Ruslan and Ludmilla, Sampo and Sadko(which is only to be seen in the original Russian version, the dub ruins it), and is having a great run of Russian fairy/folk-tale films. It was also highly recommended by commentators for those respective films, regarding it as one of his best/one of their favourites of his. I am happy that there are people who remember The Stone Flower very fondly, I am one of those newly-acquainted with it from Youtube rather than those who saw it in childhood. I am also glad that I saw it, as it really is as good as people say it is, and for me it is one of Ptushko's best. It is a gorgeous film to look at, the scenery is enough to take your breath away and the film is beautifully shot as well. It is very easy to be taken by the music score as well, because it does have a sense of fantasy and adventure, it sounds very Russian in its songs and its nationalistic feel, it is lusciously orchestrated and sometimes even sounds like a tender tone poem. The dialogue is well-incorporated within the story and sounds generally natural and sincerely delivered. The story is a magical one, it unfolds beautifully and packs a very powerful punch. It does move slowly particularly in the middle, but that is not a bad thing, if anything it gave the story a sense of freedom, time to breathe and allowed us to become invested in the characters and story and also admire the Russian culture. The characters all engage, especially the wicked Copper witch, they are fairy-tale clichés certainly but that is not to be taken as a bad thing. The acting is good, the hero is noble and sincere and the Copper Witch is both entrancing and icy. I personally didn't see the ending as that much of a cheat, there have been far worse ending cheats around. Though I do think also that The Stone Flower perhaps could've been even more powerful if ended tragically. All in all, magical. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Seen shortly after it was released. A beautiful, and apparently rare film, since I have never seen a video of it available. Easily equal to the work of Serge Eisenstein, produced during the Stalinist days of the USSR, but is a telling of a famous Russian fable. An excellent film, which should be on video.

For the commentator below, I thought I had seen it on tape but I'm not sure. Most probably saw it an art house in Chicago or some university festival (Roosevelt University had a very good one back then).

The film's use of color was a landmark breakthrough. It was a process different and superior to technicolor. We can do it today in say, Kodacolor, and "The Red Shoes" did indeed quite approximate it but good as that was, it did not equal SF,

I wonder if Martin Scorcese, who did a commentary for "The Red Shoe" saw it. I'm sure he would have been impressed and if someone could get to him today he might even promote putting it on DVD just for gras artis gras.

The film was of some importance politically too in that it was the first kind of cultural exchange gesture the Soviets made at the height of the cold war. We probably sent them "Gone With The Wind." I mean that.

This faux (?) folktale, probably the best known film of Soviet fabulist Aleksandr Ptushko, is a paean to artistic individuality: a daydreaming youth becomes protégé to an old stone carver; visits the secret cave of a mountain witch to delve into his art; and then, with the unwavering trust of his deserted bride, finds his way back into the world as absolute master of his craft. A rather non-collective idea to find in the Stalinist film world of the time. Ptushko's style often looks like some over-decorated/Russian-themed Christmas window, but it certainly fits his subject. The crudity in the technique comes off as sincerity and the USSR color processing of the era is often quite lovely if you boost the brightness level on your equipment. Aimed at kids, but probably best for grown up cultural Sovietologists.

NOTE: Check out the DVD extras for an amazing stop-motion animation clip from Ptsuhko's 1936 pic THE NEW GULLIVER.

I saw The Stone Flower back in the forties shortly after it was released. I have never forgotten it. The color was so amazing that some of the images have remained permanently imprinted in my brain! I am disappointed that it is unavailable on video nor have I ever seen t revived anywhere where I have been. I am glad there are at least a few others who remember it.