A young girl Marina suddenly meets an evil witch so adventures start...
Practical Effects
Witch costume clearly someone's repurposed curtains.
Acting
Esambayev's villain energy deserves better material.
Director
Yuri Pobedonostsev
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot during Brezhnev's stagnation era, when state-funded fairy tales carried subtle ideological messaging about collective good versus individual corruption.
Esambayev was a celebrated dancer who reportedly took this role only because his niece begged him; his choreography background explains the witch's weirdly graceful movements.
SU
