Dear Jean49r,
Before I begin discussing Row's films, I'll tell you a little on his
life. Most of what I've learned is from the source fp-ga mentioned
before (Who's Who site in Russian,
<http://www.peoples.ru/art/cinema/producer/rou/>,
<http://www.prazdniki.ru/person/1/1004/> is exactly the same),
collaborated with other sources. Unfortunately, there's very little on
him in English.
Row was born in 1906 in Zagorsk, a city some 70 miles from Moscow. His
father was an Irishman, Arthur Row, who came to Russia to work as an
engineer. In 1916, during the First World War, his father returned to
Ireland. Row went to a technical trade school, and from there began to
work as a teenager in film productions, debuting in 1938 and working
since mostly with Gorky Studios.
Row was and is known mainly as a fantasy and science fiction director.
Most of his films are adaptations of Russian tales, with fantastic
effect and scenery of the time. Row is recognised as one of the
fathers of cinematic fantasy in the Russian cinema "The Russian
cinematic fairy tale also has old traditions, founded by Alexander Row
(The Frosty Fire, Water and Cooper Trumpets, Morozko, etc.) and
Alexander Ptushko (The Stone Flower, Sadko). " (Film Critic in Russia
<http://www.mediaeducation.boom.ru/Media.htm>). Also in his life, he
was recognised: despite the Cold War, his films were relatively widely
distributed, and in 1968 he was awarded by the Soviet government as
"cinematic hero of the USSR" and he was very popular in the USSR and
Eastern Europe (at least in the GDR, East Germany. His films are still
occasionally displayed in cinemas in former Eastern Germany). In any
case, his films are not the sweet Disney style fairy tales, but with a
very distinctive style of his own.
Maybe his most known film (to the English speaking world, that is), is
"Jack Frost" (also named "Father Frost" or "Morozko", as the name of
the character in Russian), dated 1964. The film "A charming
live-action fantasy from Russia about a young girl left in the woods
thanks to her cruel stepmother, and how the magical Father Frost saves
her. Meanwhile, a vain young man is taught a lesson in humility and
falls for the girl." (Source: Movies Unlimited
<http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/frameset/index.asp?frame=findresults%5Fdirector%2Easp&search=Aleksandr+Rou>,
the site has the film for sale, dubbed in English). This film won the
Lion of San Marco - Grand Prize at the 1965
Venice film festival (See USENET discussion:
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=3cdd5455%240%241420%24272ea4a1%40news.execpc.com&oe=UTF-8&output=gplain).
There are several other films produced and directed by Row.
1959 (1965) - Maria, the Wonderful Weaver (MARIA ISKUSNITSA) -
according to Ruscico.com
http://www.ruscico.com/detail_eng.php?link=65, will be released on DVD
in 2004. They describe it as "After serving in the army, a soldier is
returning home. In an enchanted forest he meets Ivanushka whose
mother, Maria the Wonderful Weaver, has been stolen by the evil,
treacherous and elusive Tsar Vodokrut XIII. The brave soldier decides
to help Ivanushka. In search of the boy’s mother, he will traverse
with him the enchanted forest and will go down to the sea bottom…" A
VHS version, dubbed in English (and titled The Magic Weaver, its
American 1965 release title) is available from Movies Unlimited
<http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/frameset/index.asp?frame=product%2Easp&sku=109412>.
1960/1 - Cinderella (Bolshoi) (1961)
"Magnificent, color-filled film version of the Bolshoi Ballet's
staging of the Prokofiev classic, shot during a performance in Moscow.
Raisa Struchkova is featured in the title role, along with Gennadi
Lediakh, Elena Vanke. 81 min."
You could buy it at:
<http://www.buyindies.com/listings/1/9/FCTS-1914.html>
<http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/frameset/index.asp?frame=findresults%5Fdirector%2Easp&search=Aleksandr+Rou>
In 1961 he also produced/directed another Gogol story (the first was
1953's May Nights, or Maiskaya noch, ili utoplennitsa, as it was
called in Russian). This time, "Night Before Christmas (in the Village
Near Dikanka)".
THE NIGHTS IN THE VILLAGE NEAR DIKANKA. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
1961
dur. 90 min. dir. Alexander Row. Based on the novel by Nicolai Gogol.,
which is described here: "The Devil that was visiting a local witch
stole the Moon, tha whole village was in the darkness. The local smith
Vacula asked his beloved beauty Oksana to marry him and got "No". He
went to ask an advise from The Rougue Big Stomach Patsuk/a local wise
guy/ but found the Devil, sat on him and went to the capital
St.-Petersbourg to the Queen. He asked her for her shoes to give
Oksana as the engagement present." (SCIENCE-FICTION FILMS OF RUSSIA
(1917-1996), <http://www.sf.perm.ru/eng/solaris/films.html>. A VHS
version of this film exists and you might find it in cinematiques.
1963 - Kingdom Of Crooked Mirrors [DVD] (1963)
Lively children's fable from Russia about a stubborn little girl with
bad habits who won't listen to anyone. Stumbling upon a magic mirror
that allows her to meet her reflection, which embodies all her
negative qualities, the girl visits a magical kingdom full of
dishonest people where she begins to see the error of her ways. Olga
Yukina, Tatyana Yukina star. 80 min. Standard; Soundtracks: Russian
Dolby Digital 5.1, Arabic Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1;
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Russian, Italian,
German, Portuguese, Chinese, Hebrew, Arabic, Dutch, Swedish;
interview; filmography; photo gallery.
You could buy it at,
<http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/frameset/index.asp?frame=findresults%5Fdirector%2Easp&search=Aleksandr+Rou>,
which is also the origin o this quote.
Through Fire, Water And...Brass Pipes [DVD] (1968)
In this Russian fable, Vasya goes into the woods to see Alyonushka,
his beloved, but Kashchei, the immortals' servant, kidnaps the girl.
In order to get her back, Vasya must pass through a series of trials.
86 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English, Russian and
French Dolby 5.1; Subtitles: English.
Again, you could get a copy at
<http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/frameset/index.asp?frame=findresults%5Fdirector%2Easp&search=Aleksandr+Rou>
Barbara The Fair With The Silken Hair [DVD] (1969)
A magical fairy tale from Russia in which tsar Yeremey is kidnapped by
the wicked undersea ruler Chudo-Yudo while on a journey of his realm.
As Yeremey is held hostage, his family faces all sorts of treachery
and deceit. 88 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: Russian Dolby Digital
5.1, English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles:
English, Spanish, French, Russian, Italian, German, Portuguese,
Hebrew, Dutch, Swedish; "making of" documentary; filmography; photo
gallery; theatrical trailer; more.
<http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/frameset/index.asp?frame=findresults%5Fdirector%2Easp&search=Aleksandr+Rou>
Row's last film was an adaptation of the Baba Yaga fairytales to
cinema (1972) and also exists on VHS.
A good collection of Row's films exists in University of Pittsburgh
Slavic and East European Film Collection
<http://www.pitt.edu/~slavic/video/r.html>.
I hope that answered your question. I looked for the name and its
possible variations (also in Russian) in order to locate this
information for you. If you need any further clarifications on this
answer, please let me know. I'd be pleased to clarify my answer before
you rate/tip it. |
