Храбрый оленёнок (The brave little deer)

The Brave Little Deer is a Russian animation made around 1945 by directors Olga Khodataeva and Leonid Aristov. The story takes place in the winter season at the Cold Sea where all the animals migrate down to a warmer climate. The animation introduces the herd of deers and their leader Тургун. The group of deers must journey to the other side of the mountain where greenery grows. In the herd, there is one female deer called Тенгене, her fawn Аукно and an older grumpy female deer that sees Аукно as a scared and timid fawn who tries to put on a brave face for his mother. Then, the group is being followed by a pack of wolves that are sniffing down the deers track. When the leader Тургун sends the group off first into the mountain, he acts as a diversion and runs towards the wolves. The wolves then try attacking. Тургун knew the wolves were stronger in packs so he ran towards a cliff and jumped on the other side. The wolves could not jump from a far distances and plumped it to their doom. Soon, the group continued on their journey to the mountain. But what they did not know was that one of the wolves survived the fall. Though the wolf was injured, the wolf continued the search for the deers. While the deers had to jump over a small cliff to get where they need to, Аукно stopped dead in his track—for he was scared of the height. The older female deer then told Аукно that he has a heart of a hare but his mother Тенгене encourages and helps him to keep trying his best. Unfortunately due to the snow storm, Аукно and Тенгене were separated by the group. When daylight came out, Тенгене and Аукно were trying to find the group, they encountered the wolf. They barely managed to escape the wolf for a brief while but soon, they faced another problem when Тенгене fell into the river which was covered by ice. She tried getting back on the ice but kept breaking. Аукно tried helping his mother but she had told him to go find Тургун and the other deers. So, Аукно ran as fast as he can and found the group and Тургун. When told Тургун that his mother was in trouble and looked yonder the landscape, Аукно saw the wolf approaching his mother. So Аукно ran and with courage, he ran towards the wolf and acted as the diversion. With that, Тургун and the other deers were able to save Тенгене, and in turn the whole deer group pushed the wolf down to the river where it drowned. Тургун then told Аукно that he had a brave heart and especially the old grumpy female deer then recognized Аукно’s horns and said he was a brave fawn.

This story in some way is similar to the Disney animation Bambi however, the difference was that the fawn was able to save his mother from death. Giving the animation a happy ending and showing that anyone can be brave if they put their efforts into it. 

The Geography and Climate of Russia

Russia, the largest country in the world, is big, very big, comprising roughly 1/6th of the world's land mass and its double the size of the United States. Russia is primarily a northern country which covers mostly north of China and east of Europe. However, it tends to resemble Canada and Alaska more in terms of climate since Russia leans closely to the Arctic. Since Russia is similar to Canada and Alaska, Russia’s climate tends to be based on long winters and short summer. This is possible because Russia’s land mass is close to the sea. However, this also means that the agricultural growing season tends to be short, limiting the types of crops that can be grown.

Most of the land consists of vast plains: steppe to the south, taiga in the center; tundra to the north. This vast Eurasian plain, stretching from the Pacific Coast all the way into Central Europe, is broken only by the Ural Mountains in the middle--mountains that because of their low height have never really been a barrier to travel or invasion. There are mountain ranges along the southern border of Russia. Meaning that Russia’s land possesses mostly every ecosystem ever know, except for the tropical ecosystem. And with such a large variety of ecosystem, Russia even holds a variety of animals known such as the lynx, snow leopard, brown bear and many more.

Aleksandr (Sergeyevich) Pushkin (1799-1837)

The founder of Russian Literature. Born in Moscow, Russia. 
Aleksandr was born in a poor aristocratic family. His father descended from ancient noble family and his mother side, he was the great-great-grandson of a black slave named Abyssinian Dannibal who served under Peter the Great; which signified the fact that the slave brought over to Russia soon became a noble. In his childhood, his education was left to the nursemaids, french tutors and governess--this included the household serfs and his nanny Arina Rodionovna. At the age of 14, he submitted his first poem.

From there, he had written various literature styles--from poetry to verses/stories. Some stories and verses he has written were either translation from the nanny's fantasy story or they were stories detailing everyday lifestyles. This style was also found in his poems such as love, consciousness and politics (even though his friends could not consider him a political person).
For example: Я вас любил.../I loved you once...

Я вас любил: любовь еще, быть может В душе моей угасла не совсем; Но пусть она вас больше не тревожит; Я не хочу печалить вас ничем. Я вас любил безмолвно, безнадежно, То робостью, то ревностью томим; Я вас любил так искренно, так нежно, Как дай вам бог любимой быть другим.

I loved you once: perhaps that love has yet To die down thoroughly within my soul; But let it not dismay you any longer; I have no wish to cause you any sorrow. I loved you wordlessly, without a hope, By shyness tortured, or by jealousy. I loved you with such tenderness and candor And pray God grants you to be loved that way again.

This poem, as stated in the title is about a lost love or maybe a love he had once with someone--nevertheless, he only wishes that his once important person to be happy and loved by someone else. 

Russian Festivals: Maslyanitsa or Pancake Week

When winter ends and spring comes, there is always a festival held for one week before Lent. That week is called, Maslyanista or Pancake week. The festival usually celebrates this week by serving all kind of pancakes (the thin slices that look similar to crepes) and they always have s special ceremony in which a doll known as Maslyanista is built and is burnt down in the bonfire. Whatever of its pieces remains or flies out of the fire, the citizens would then always throw it back to the fire. Later, after the fire ends, they bury the remains under the snow, in some sense; they make the remains act as a fertilizer so the plants and harvest can grow healthy in the spring. The weeks are as they follow.

Monday – “meeting”,

Tuesday – “fun”,

Wednesday – “sweet tooth”,--serving of the pancakes.

Thursday – “feast”---burning of the dolls in the fire.

Friday – “visiting mother-in-law”

Saturday – “visiting sister-in-law”

Sunday – “farewell” “Forgiveness day”—when you go to a certain person whom you wish they can forgive you. Each person confesses their sins, hoping to be relieved from it. And once they’ve made up, they bow and say, “May God forgive you.”

 

<http://www.russian.net/maslyanitsa.htm>

<http://www.greatholidayideas.net/heritage/russian-festivals.html>

Снегу́рочка (The Snow Maiden)

Снегу́рочка (The Snow Maiden) is a well-known Russian fairy tale that has been rewritten in many versions, from operas to films. For example, one version details of how two old couples (which couldn't have children), made a daughter out of snow and the snow daughter came to life. (To read more about this version, visit this link: http://clover.slavic.pitt.edu/tales/snow_maiden.html)

The other heard and decided to watch was based on a Russian Soviet animated film from 1952. The film was directed and produced by Иван Иванов-Вано (Ivan Ivanov-Vano). The animated film was adopted from the opera (which made me wonder if the author of this version of the opera was Nokolai Rimsky-Korsakov or Aleksandr Ostrovsky).

(summary plus spoiler)

The film begins when Spring and Frost (mystical beings) had a small talk of how they should let their Snegurochka, their daughter, live. Should they let her live with humans or let her live forever alone, and trapped in the forest? Making their final decision Frost calls his daughter. Snergurochka comes. Frost and Spring asked their daughter if she'd love to live among the humans. Snegurchoka, with such joy replied yes--she had always wanted to live with humans, and especially, be close to her beloved Shepard Lel. For she had loved how the Shepard Lel sang his song and have heard that he was the most handsome man. Frost was shocked and worried for his daughter safety--so he asked the goblins of the forest to watch over her (for he feared that the humans will hurt and destroy his daughter's cold being). So, Snegurchoka left the forest and have decided to live with two old couple. The months have passed, the land still had this long, unusal winter and Snegurchoka still couldnt get used to living with humans. But she didn't mind, for she liked how Lel sang his songs. In the film, Lel had tried attempting to woo Snegurchoka but, with her cold expression and emotion, she gave up and wooed other womens. This had made Snegurchoka feel uneasy. Then, Kupava and Mizugir appeared into the scene--the two are meant to wed and yet, Mizugir fell in love with Snegurchoka. Kupava fell into despair, wanting to kill herself, Lel stopped her--telling her that no one as pretty as she is, needs to die and he advised her to see the Tsar of the land. Before Kupava appeared to the Tsar, the Tsar and his friend had a talk of how the land had less spring and sun--they believed that the land was cursed by something. Then Kupava appeared before the Tsar and told her of how her husband has betrayed her and that Snegurchoka was to blame. The Tsar then summoned all the villagers and Mizugir. Asking, in front of the entire whole village, if he betrayed his wife Mizugir replied yes. With that, he was exiled--however, before the punishment can be decreed on him, Snegurchoka came into the palace. Looking at all the paintings on the wall with awe, the Tsar approached the girl and had asked if she had ever been in love. And because she is a Snow Maiden who has no heart, she replied no. With a reply like that, the Tsar had commanded anyone who'd show Snegurchoka love. Mizugir and Lel accepted the proposal. However, Lel had no interest in Snegurchoka anymore, he had fallen for Kupava. Snegurchoka was devisated and in pain, running away, she called her mother Spring. Spring came. Snegurchoka asked her mother to give her a heart. Spring said no at first but, hearing her daughter's plea, Spring then bestowed Snegurchoka a flower diadem that soon gave her a heart. Snegurchoka was filled with many emotions--such as happiness, love. Spring told her daughter that the first human man she'll see, she'll fall in love with and her that she must not appear in front of the Sun (or Sun God) or else she would melt. Snegurchoka understood--and who appeared before her was Mizugir. The two of them fell in love and Snegurchoka told Mizugir that she wanted to be married. So the two of them went back to the Tsar and in front of the whole village, told the Tsar that the wished to married. The Tsar accepted. Suddenly, as the Tsar proclaimed their marriage final, the Sun appeared. Snegurchoka with such joy and happiness melted. Mizugir was so devistated that he jumped off a cliff and chose death just so he can be with her. The whole village, Lel, and the Tsar were in shock. But, they did not mourn for their death, instead, they all sang and were glad that the cold days had ended.

The film was very tragic. I believed that Snegurchoka did love Lel but was unaware of how love can be expressed in many ways. Lel was just a player who didn't care for Snegurchoka. Mizugir was a hopeless man who I think was the one who cared for Snegurchoka the most--he loved her so much that he died just to be with her...but it makes me wonder if he actually loved her or if he was obessed with her. As for Kupava, she was just an innocent victim and bystander. As for Snegurchoka's death, I would've liked to know and see how Spring and Frost felt when they heard that their only daughter died.

I'd recommed anyone to see this movie, it was pretty good (links down here have English Subs, but be warned, sometimes the subs get repeated accidently--this is a technology error the user didn't fix).

The Snow Maiden (animated film 1952) Part 1

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xph50i_snegurochka-part-1-1952-ivan-ivanov-vano-the-snow-maiden-russian-animation_shortfilms

The Snow Maiden (animated film 1952) Part 2

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpgz0x_snegurochka-part-2-1952-ivan-ivanov-vano-the-snow-maiden-russian-animation_shortfilms

 

Russian 101, Unit 3: Zinaida Serebryakova

 

(Self Portrait at the Dressing Table)

Zinaida Yevgenyevna Serebryakova was born into a family that encircled themselves in the art world. Her father Yevgey, a famous sculptor, her mother a painter and her three brothers (one a painter, one a graphic artist, and one a sculptor)—naturally, in this family, she’d be not only interested in art but also, have talent in painting. After grammar school (or high school in Russian), she went to an Art School created by Princess Tenisheva (school name was known as Princess Tenisheva Art School) in St. Petersburg where she was directed by the realist painter Ilya Repin. Later, she studied at a studio directed by Osip Braz—and after studying at the studio, she decided to travel to Italy from 1902-1903. In going to Italy, she traveled to paris and studed for one full year at the Academie de la Grande Chaumierce. In returning home, she joined a type of Artist alliance in Russian where she displayed her paintings at a exhibition. A particular painting that led Serebryakova to her first step to fame as one of the first female Russian painters was her Self Portrait at the Dressing table—the painting was critique for its originality and its lack of pretension. Serebryakova was very interested in having her paintings be brought to life with the use of vivid colors and making her art so realistic (by using the geographical landscape and using the sculpture bodies as reference for her subjects). Later on in life, she married a famous writer and railway engineer named Boris Serebraykov—which they had 4 children together. Unfortunately, for Zinaida, her life took a turn for the worst when the October Revolution began. Riots took place in St Petersburg first and later spread to the capital of Russia, spreading chaos. This revolution had made Zinaida  lose her home, her husband (who died of typhus)—leaving her no choice but to escape to Paris with her 4 children. Over at Paris, she had to work to make a living. Although she could continue to draw and paint in her spare time, due to the low income, she had to use more charcoal, papers and pencils rather than paint to save some of the money. However, with that lack of art supplies, she was able to create a masterpiece that also gained Zinaida fame, the Castle of Cards--which depicted the lifestyle she and her 4 childrens faced during the October Revolution and their lifestyle at Paris. From that point on, with charcoal, pencil and some colors, she was able to draw some beautiful paintings--from ballerinas to nudity. And in the end, Zinaida Serebryakova spent her last moments at Paris.

When I look at the Self Portrait, rather than a lack of pretnsion, it seemed brilliant and vivid. It was almost like I was looking at someone else or myself through the mirror.

Russian 101, Unit 2: Kulich

Russian Pasteries vary from pancakes to just regular cakes. However, there is one speacial cake that is offered every year on Easter Sunday known as Kulich. The Russians or families linage is from Russia sometimes say that this recipe was passed down by their great-grandmothers. The Kulich is a very tall, cylinder sweet cake that sometimes contain lots of almonds, raisins or fruits on the cake. The cake is usually sliced and is spread with a special sweet cheese known as paskha. The origins of the cake was to be said dated back when the Greek Orthodox Church forbid the comsumption of the 'forbidden ingredients' such as: eat meat, eggs, butter or other dairy products. Then, when Easter Sunday comes, the Church allows the people to eat the forbidden ingredients, making the cake famous for its large porportion of eggs and butter in the cakes ingredient.

Ingredients for Kulich

200 ml whole milk
25 g fresh yeast
450 - 500 g flour
200 ml sugar
4 egg yolks
3 - 4 egg whites
100 g almonds + some for garnishing
¼ tsp salt
150 g butter
(1 tsp vanilla sugar)
pinch of saffron threads
½ - 1 tbsp vodka