Why so much hype?

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

A simply beautiful and enchanting Soviet film. Zolushka is very sumptuously produced, the costumes and sets evoking a really magical fairy-tale warmth and the photography doesn't hinder them in any way, no signs of going-through-the-motions or trying too hard. The score is just lovely to listen to and very distinctively Russian in sound. The songs sparkle as much as the script and story, the lyrics are clever and the melodies easy to remember. The writing is charming and the humour is hilarious, very smartly scripted Zolushka is. The story is simply enchanting, the Cinderella story is an old- though timeless- one but with Zolushka it doesn't feel that way, the tale is told with freshness, wit, charm and warmth and all that by being faithful in spirit to the story. The two leads are great and utterly believable- even when much older than their characters as has been said already- and the stepmother is appropriately formidable, while the fairy is nicely benevolent and the king is both regal and funny. The voices are also good. All in all, really beautiful and any Soviet film or fairy-tale-musical(or both) aficionado will be under its spell(as corny as that sounds). 10/10 Bethany Cox

I think this is an excellent film, and far better than any of the Disney fairy-tales because, the actors are so great, and the music is so cheerful that I think kids will love it. But it's also a very funny and witty movie, and adults will enjoy it too. Here is a piece of dialog between the King and his guards as he yells to them from a tower:King-Hellooo! Hellooo! Guards of this fairy-tale castle, do you hear me? (Guards-We hear you, your Majesty!) King-Did a girl with one shoe leave the gate of our castle? (Guards-How many shoes were on her?) King-One! One! (Guards-Was she blonde?) King-Yes! A blonde! (Guards-How old was she?) King-About 16! (Guards-Nice?) King-Very nice! (Guards-OK! We understand! No, we haven't seen her. No one has left the gate!) King-Then why have you asked me all these specific questions? (Guards-We were interested, your Majesty!)

It is easily one of the best films ever made and if you don't like it, you should check your taste in cinema and the brain. "Zolushka" shows how the films were once made in our country: wisdom, funny jokes, superior performances, enchanting music - whatever you take, everything was done with heart on a highest aesthetic level.The psychotic king is amazingly brought to life by Mr Erast Garin. The evil stepmother "shines" with the help of Mrs Faina Ranevskaya's talent. And the interpretation of Cinderella by Ms Yanina Zhejmo is just to the point. The innocence and goodness of Cinderella drives me almost to tears and it speaks a lot, be sure.If you want your children to grow up sane and good persons, don't fail to show them films like this one.10 out of 10 - it simply must not be given less while it is a timeless classic for all ages and for all millenniums. Thank you for attention.

One of the best examples of genius of Russian movie making. The songs are enchanting, the jokes are instant soundbites, acting is wonderful, the plot is captivating, without any fluff. Great movie not only for children, but for the adults as well.