Olovyannui Soldatik. Steadfast Tin Soldier
From 1959, Soviet Union. A beautiful adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. It’s the only one that doesn’t replace the Black Goblin character that lives in the cigar box, and keeps the full 3 acts of the story and keeps the tragic ending.
Regrettably though, the best part of the story’s ending is not shown: the next day the maid is cleaning the fireplace and finds the remains. Of the ballerina, only ash, and of the soldier, a lump of tin that had melted in the shame of a heart.
The ending is also changed from the Andersen original in that the paper ballerina is not gusted into the fire by chance, but willingly leaps to her death so she can embrace her love before they both are engulfed by the flames.
I’ve watched the end a hundred times and go back to play it again every once in awhile. It’s just flipping beautiful. His calling out to her while he melts. Her sadness which turns to resolve as she knows the choice she wants to make (very much like the Titanic scene where Rose gives a long stare back at Jack as she is lowered in the lifeboat and decides to jump back onto the sinking ship where they embrace to meet their doom together). Everything about it is great. The cuts back and forth between in the fire and safe on the table. The anguish of the black goblin after she makes her final choice. He loses. But in a way, they all lose.
If only they included the melted heart ending, it would be a 5 star rendition.
just read your take on the russian short film of the tin soldier, and i agree, it’s a beautiful piece of art! the music, hc andersen’s story, the characters… i also noted how you’re missing the ending with the housekeeper finding the tin and ash in the shape of a heart in the fireplace, so i guess my question is – do you speak russian? i’m asking because the narrator actually mentions this in the final monologue. (reaching for a 5/5 rating here… ;)) besides, i think the ending is perfect the way it is. actually seeing the melted heart on screen would just be a tad too much, so i’m happy they chose to do it the way they did, but to each his own i guess.