The Pioneer's Violin (1971)

The Pioneer's Violin

1971

Animation

Synopsis

Subtle coloring and an impressionistic approach to landscape distinguish this patriotic animated short set to music. After a flourishing Soviet hamlet is destroyed by Nazi planes, the sole survivor is confronted by a hulking Nazi commando in a tank. The military man tries to cajole the young violinist into repeating a jaunty harmonica melody at gunpoint but the boy strikes up a noble song of resistance instead. Stepantsev's film may romance the idea of martyrdom but it does so with a gravity not often found in similar films.

Credits

Director

Boris Stepantsev

Crew

Anatoliy Abarenov (Animation)

Anatoliy Petrov (Animation)

Nikolay Erykalov (Animation)

Renata Mirenkova (Animation)

Viktor Shevkov (Animation)

Yuriy Butyrin (Animation)

Yuriy Kuzyurin (Animation)

Anatoly Savchenko (Art Direction)