Aleksandr Ptushko’s Ruslan and Ludmila is a technical triumph, boasting an eye-popping array of costume and set designs, some impressive special effects work to rival the low-budget wizardry of Mario Bava, and color cinematography of considerable sumptuousness that was the combined effort of two DPs. That’s not to say that Ptushko’s final film only catches the eye. The fantastical story, based on an epic narrative poem by Alexander Pushkin from 1820 that was in turn inspired by old Russian folktales, is replete with earthy humor, dramatic incident, and even its fair share of charming musical numbers.
The narrative opens in 10th-century Kiev with the nuptials of the heroic knight Ruslan (Valeri Kozinets) and the beautiful Ludmila (Natalya Petrova). The consummation of their marriage is rudely interrupted, though, when Ludmila is abruptly spirited away by the magical forces of evil wizard Chernomor (Vladimir Fyodorov). Angry at Ruslan’s inability to protect his daughter,...
The narrative opens in 10th-century Kiev with the nuptials of the heroic knight Ruslan (Valeri Kozinets) and the beautiful Ludmila (Natalya Petrova). The consummation of their marriage is rudely interrupted, though, when Ludmila is abruptly spirited away by the magical forces of evil wizard Chernomor (Vladimir Fyodorov). Angry at Ruslan’s inability to protect his daughter,...
- 7/4/2024
- by Budd Wilkins
- Slant Magazine
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