Powerful

Expected more

The first must-see film of the year.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

"Rusalochka" is a film directed by Ivan Aksenchuk and written by Aleksandr Galich. In this movie which runs for slightly under half an hour they give us their (the Soviet take) on the famous story of "The Little Mermaid". It was made back in 1968, so will soon have its 50th anniversary. I personally feel that this film came short in almost all the areas where the Disney version delivered so greatly. This includes story-telling, but also the music and the way the characters are depicted in general. The mermaid is still among the better here, but the prince looks really ridiculous and the evil sea watch is not scary at all. I know they wanted to make this as a film that is never scary and for the whole family, but to me these changes mean that they almost destroyed the film. There is very little I'd recommend here and the overall outcome is a pretty insignificant little film that drags on several occasions. I cannot recommend checking it out.

The Little Mermaid is my favourite fairytale of all time. The heartbreaking story of the mermaid girl who sacrifices everything to be with the one she fell in love with and ends up losing her life for it has always touched me so deeply, that I cannot describe in words how much I love it (and hate it at the same time, which only makes me love it more). Unfortunately in many adaptations of the story the gets screwed up in order to get the happy ending that everyone wants the poor mermaid to have.I too long for something amazing to happen when I'm watching any adaptation of the story, so that she will marry her prince, and get her voice back, but I'm ultimately disappointed if that actually happens. Even when I first saw Disney's adaptation as a 5 year old girl, I remember how little the ending impressed me, because I knew the original story.Fortunately Rusalochka is stays true to the original tale by Andersen. Not only has it been created with a deep respect to the original story. Nothing of importance has been changed, and the unfairness of life is just devastating to watch. The two different morals narrated at the end of the story give some interesting insight. It is also one of the most visually enchanting animations I have ever seen. The style is very unusual an many different techniques have been used. The characters in the fairytale part seem to be strongly influenced by Russian icons, and it all feels like a moving tapestry. The mermaid herself looks so fragile and vulnerable, especially underwater. It all gives it a slightly otherworldly look.The most amazing thing might actually be the soundtrack... The song she sings is so hauntingly beautiful, that it just tears me up. I even dream about it!I think this is a must see for everyone who likes beautiful and artistic animation and/or Hans Christian Anderson's amazing fairy tale 'The Little Mermaid'.

This animation is quite unusual in my opinion. The graphic is not standard for Soyuzmultfilm of 1960-th. I think in those times it was innovation. It reminded me surrealism and cubism in art to some extend. The picture is painted by triangles, curls, squares mixed with traditional images animation. So when you watch it sometimes it looks like a big moving quilt application on cloth.There is introduction into story and epilogue, which are painted in completely different manner. And I liked it from both sides: from the point of how it was made, and from the point of what it was about. Introduction from modern time into the times of Andersen is splendid. The phrase about absence of true love in the world is a masterpiece.I agree with the previous comment from Armenia about closeness of this short animation to what Andersen really meant in his story. "The little mermaid" is the story of unbelievably true love and strikingly great sacrifice. So I was happy to see that original intentions and original text of Andersen was not amended to please children's audience with happy-end. I cried watching it.

This animated film is based on the tale by Danish tale-teller Hans Christian Andersen. This is a very sad, noble, impressive story. The Little Mermaid sacrifices her happiness with her family, abandons her home, gives her only treasure - her beautiful voice to the Sea Witch to have a mere chance to be with the handsome Prince whom she had rescued from the storm and who has only heard her singing. The deal was that if she didn't win his heart being unable to explain who she was in three days' time, she'd become sea foam. Everything goes well. But on the third day the Prince meets the princess who had taken care of him after he was safe on the shore the day he nearly died. Prince marries her in gratitude. Hearing about that sisters of Little Mermaid give up their treasure - their hair to the Witch to get a means to save their sister. Witch says that Little Mermaid has to sink the whole ship where she sails with the Prince and his wife to be able to return home. But Little Mermaid decides that she'd rather die, than harm the Prince. This impressive story shows that true love has no limits and it doesn't deal with selfishness. This film isn't very colored or funny or happy like Disney's story, but it shows better morality and gives us a perfect example of sacrifice, and seeing it once you won't be able to forget it for a long time. I think if the author saw all the films about Little Mermaid, he'd have said that this one is exactly what he meant.