Absolutely love fantasy and have been in love with the Russian language since starting studying it nearly seven years ago. Have seen my fair share of Russian films, namely fantasy and animation, and on the most part have gotten much pleasure out of them. A good antidote when in intensive periods of studying and it is just so wonderful getting to know these great stories, the distinctive Soviet fantasy atmosphere and the language itself.
'The Humpbacked Horse' is for me another one of the standouts of the recently started "re-visiting Russian film" period (having been on a roll doing it nearly six years ago) if not one of my favourite Russian fantasies. It is very entertaining and charming and with a lot to like. There are enough imaginative touches to set it apart and there is a sense of wonder in the atmosphere. Really like to love all of Aleksandr Rou's films, but 'The Humpbacked Horse' is one of his best and most accessible, being already familiar with the story, some people may find it strange but have found personally watching other Soviet films that strangeness/surrealism has been part of their charm.
Visually, 'The Humpbacked Horse' is very pleasing, beautifully photographed and the colours are not over-saturated or drab. The special effects, while not what one calls special or sophisticated, by today's standards for some that is (they're pretty impressive for the 1940s), have a charm to them and are quite imaginatively used.
Music is lush and atmospheric, with a distinctive Russian feel and a well judged mix of rousing, whimsical and understated. Rou directs with an assured touch that never gets too serious or farcical. The writing has a nice youthful fresh naivety, snap, surprising sincerity and it at least made sense, didn't find it cheesy at all. The film is full of charm and heart, as well as wondrous in atmosphere, and doesn't get muddled, even with a good deal thrown in while the surrealism does not get too weird, scary or excessive.
Liked the storytelling, which was fun and amiable with a sense of wonder and endearing quirkiness, handled very imaginatively. None of it felt dragged out. The characters are immensely colourful in personality and likeable. The acting is not the greatest, being theatrical in spots, but again it fitted the characters and there was never anything that would make one cringe.
On the whole, very nice. 8/10 Bethany Cox
