In the Czech Republic, on New Year's Eve, the Soviet film "Morozko" is traditionally watched

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The fairy tale "Frost", filmed in the 1960s in the USSR, is a traditional New Year's film in the Czech Republic. More than one generation of children grew up in the country on this film. Based on the fairy tale, computer games, quizzes and parodies have been created in the Czech Republic.

“Some adore the fairy tale“Frost”, others hate it, but everyone knows,” wrote the authors of an article about the 1964 Soviet film “Frost”, which became a cult in Czechoslovakia and then in the Czech Republic, in the Czech version of Wikipedia.

"Morozko" - in Czech "Mrazik" - an indispensable attribute of Czech Christmas and New Year for many years. This fairy tale is shown by all the leading TV channels of the country. And most Czechs turn to TV screens every time the familiar sounds of the beginning of a film are heard from childhood. Several years ago, the ice show "Mrazik", staged by the famous Czech figure skaters Radka Kovarzhikova and Rene Novotny, swept across the country with unprecedented success.

The performer of the role of Nastya Natalia Sedykh was once invited to Prague for a national prize - to present the main prize. I was shocked. I went on stage - a wave across the hall, the stalls stood up,”Sedykh recalls.

In the Czech Republic, the film has become a cult, in Russia - a classic, and in America - the worst of the cinema. Mysterious "Frost" entered the hundred worst films of all time. The reason was explained by the viewers themselves: "This film caught up with fear throughout America." “A strange father is taking his own daughter into the forest to die. Kind Grandfather Frost, a cruel old man who freezes young girls, analyzes the peculiarity of the perception of a Russian fairy tale by Americans, the dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Regional Studies of Moscow State University named after L. V. Lomonosov, Doctor of Philology Svetalana Ter-Minasova. - The poor orphan, dying from the cold, sits chatting with her teeth and says: "It's warm." This is nonsense. This is irrational. First, she's lying. Secondly, Marfushenka is a negative hero for Russians, for Americans she is a dream come true: she wants a husband and prosperity in the family, like every normal woman. In such cases, they say - a conflict of cultures "(why this happens, partly explains the article Russian cultural codeseditor of the portal Kramol).

Czech TV channels, even 45 years later, continue to fight for the right to broadcast Morozko. Only once did they not share it. Due to protracted legal proceedings, there was no film in 1997. In order not to be left without a fairy tale ever again, "Morozko" was staged in the theater. Almost no rehearsals. After all, everyone - the actors, the director, and the audience - already knows it by heart.

See also: How an evil Santa Claus became kind

Opinions about the film (spied on the website of Czech moviegoers)

Yes, some might say they've seen it 20 times already. Yes, someone might say that there is a lot of illogical in this tale. Yes, some might say that the acting is foolishly naive … Damn! What am I talking about … It's "Frost"! And "Morozko" cannot be assessed otherwise than to give it five stars without any conventions! He deserves them only for the excellent dubbing.

I watched this film in Russian, with subtitles, and the cult ended there. This is probably the only film that dubbing has given a star. Plus, she wasn't red.

This is a naive, Soviet film, seen 100 times already, but this is a classic that everyone will watch 101 times without making a sound. Because out of this movie cliché arose the cliche of Czech Christmas, and everyone is swallowing it, and with naivety.

First, it's a fairy tale. Secondly, this is a Russian fairy tale. Thirdly, it is a gem of Czech dubbing and evidence that Czech translators are closer to the Russian language than to English.

The omelet, served 100 times, completely lost its appeal for me, and the film became almost unbearable for me. I won't watch it a couple of times on holidays, but in 20 years I will love it again.

Whoever does not know this tale is dead. This is the most beloved Christmas movie in the Czech Republic. Despite being Russian. Ha, Ivan!

An annual Christmas tale that television cannot do without. And, despite its age, it does not lose its magic.

This movie is bad to the core. This movie is stupid from start to finish. Just because he has become a cult in our country, he does not deserve to be forgotten.

Americans' opinions on the film:

“Imagine that several Russians got together, took a little 'drugs' and decided that it would be nice to make a film … Moving trees and houses on chicken legs, I can only explain this.”

“It's not just a bad movie, it's the worst thing I've ever seen, and I'm afraid I'll ever see it again. This is not a movie, but a crime against humanity! I am surprised that the creators of the picture themselves did not burst out laughing when they saw what they had done."

“More than anything, America should be afraid of one thing: lest the creators of this film go over to the terrorist camp and start filming propaganda films for them. It's just some kind of nightmare! Some acid Teletubbies surrounded by snowdrifts. Trust me folks, this movie is really psychotic! Stay away from him!"

See also: The irony of fate - a national shrine or sabotage?

“People, they call it a CHILDREN'S movie! You can imagine childish! Do Russian children really like this movie ?! Here someone compared the plot with "acid Teletubbies", but I think the reason lies elsewhere. It was just that there was very, very, very much vodka on the set. They should have somehow basked in these snowdrifts!"

“On a scale of one to ten, I would give this movie a zero. If they shoot THIS, I'm not surprised that the Soviet Union collapsed …"

“Watching this movie can cause loss of mind and motor function. Magic mushrooms, walking houses and trees, killer gnomes … Although, if you are a child and your native language is Russian, you can watch this movie (although you probably already saw it). Otherwise, watch The Little Mermaid.

“Some crazy tale about a boastful guy who turned into a bear, and about an eleven-year-old abnormal girl whom he wants to seduce. Some idiotic house on legs, a strange man-mushroom-gnome … In short, the film is about nothing!"

“Yes, I agree, the film is, of course, strange, but remember, it's foreign! That is, you will not understand half a priori, even if it is translated normally (which is not always the case)."

“It may not be the worst movie I've ever seen, but something like that. If it weren't for the pretty Nastenka (originally written by Nastinka - author's note), it wouldn't be possible to watch him at all."

“Was it really so bad for the Russians in 1964 with cinema that they speak with such enthusiasm about this horror ?! Do not watch this film under any circumstances, even if you are drunk or want to replenish your collection of old Soviet films. Mental health is more expensive."

“I've seen several children's films in my life. This one has nothing to do with them."

“I don't understand anything about these Russian films. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the film is supposedly for children, but I doubt that the children there, too, would understand at least something."

“When I was little, no film seemed too stupid to me to watch. Then I watched "Frost" … It was not just stupid, it hurt me to watch it!"

“I understood why I hate this film. Because it is intended for children and conveys one single idea to them: people who are attractive in appearance are kind, and people with a repulsive appearance are universal evil. Of course, I understand that this has always been the case in old fairy tales, but I have never seen before that this topic was so fundamental! And it makes me very sad because the scenery in this movie is really amazing. Unlike the content …"

“I will not say that this is the worst film that I have seen in my life, but it is undoubtedly included in the top three. Worst of all, this picture is positioned as a child's. Yes, if I saw this film as a child, I would probably be moved by my mind! All existing copies of this painting must be burned!"

“Come on! For Russia in the 1960s, the film was not so badly done. But throw me a thunder if this is not the strangest movie I've seen in my life!"

“I was also interested to learn juicy details from the life of rural Russia. I had no idea that before meeting a potential husband, Russian girls do clown makeup and wear a crown, like in a Burger King!"

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