Hedgehog in the Fog, the Soviet Union stamp 1988, by Wikimedia Commons
A long-time favorite Russian мультфильм (cartoon) that continues to amaze older and younger generations of Russians and others around the world, “Ёжик в тумане [yozhik v tumane], Hedgehog in the Fog, was directed by acclaimed cartoonist, Юрий Норштейн, Yuriy Norstein, in 1975. Hedgehog in the Fog has remained both a Russian and an international masterpiece of the animation to date.
This beautiful film, made with the cutout animation method, describes a little Hedgehog’s journey in the thick fog as Ёжик rushes to visit his friend Медвежонок (Bear Cub), to drink чай с вареньем (tea with jam, a Russian tea tradition). Ёжик gets lost in the depths of the fog and encounters the Great Tree, a mysterious White Horse and other inhabitants of the forest only to be saved from sinking in the river by “Someone.” Norstein masterfully creates a 3D effect, without using any computer technology, not being available in 1975; hence practically predating modern animators with his masterpiece. Here, you can watch the film with English subtitles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCsJZV7aCdY&feature=player_embedded#t=598
Modern Russian architecture, 2010
If you’d like to discover more of creative Russia, then you’ll definitely like to read the Calvert Journal, an online-based Guide to creative Russia at http://calvertjournal.com/. Whether it is a professionally done photo-essay or a well-written article, you’ll learn something new every day about creative Russia! To quote the publication itself: “The Journal delivers a daily briefing on art, design, film, architecture and related cultural areas, through a mix of reportage, interviews, photography and design.”
Enjoy Russian arts and share your discoveries of creative Russia on LL Russian Forum at http://www.livinglanguage.com/community/!
Спасибо,
Наташа
