Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography Pilot animation studio KROK
International Animated Films Festival Present We live in Russia. The capital of our homeland is Moscow. The Kremlin is situated in the center of Moscow… …on the Borovitsky Hill… …and the Moscow River flows along its foot. Going down the Moscow River… …and then the Volga River you can reach… …the southern part of Russia with the river Don. Free people, who called themselves Cossacks, …settled here since ancient times. Although scientists still dispute, …who Cossacks are, …they consider themselves to be a separate folk. They have their own rules for everything. They call themselves the Cossack army, …they call their villages “stanitsa”, …they solve their main problems together… …and their assembly is called “krug” (“round”). Their chief has also an uncommon name – Ataman! But above all, every Cossack is ready to serve… …his country, with loyalty and courage. That’s why it is often said: …“The Cossack is born to serve his country!”. A lot of famous people were born on the Don River: …the conqueror of Siberiaataman Yermak, …the national hero Stepan Razin, …the brave Cossack general Matvey Platov… …and of course, the great writer Michail Sholokhov. And how do Cossacks dance! And how do they sing! And of course, a lot of fairy tales… …are still kept in Don stanitsas. Each of these fairy tales is like a sparkling gem! «About Stepan the Blacksmith» I heard this story from my grandfather,
who heard it from his grandfather… Once upon a time we had us a retired colonel… …as heads man in our village named… …Sansonov Alexey Christantovich. A hero – chest full of medals. He had eveything: a title, a rank, …and an estate like a palace, …respect of the villagers. The only thing he didn’thave was a child. His wife Maria Nefedovna was very sad about it! Then one day a gipsy fortune teller told her
that there is a magic fish in the Don river. Whoever eats this fish will give birth to a child. If it is a son, no problems there. But if it is a daugther, She should marry a third groom,
otherwise there will be trouble. Maria Nefedovna, of cause,
talked her husband’s ear off: …get the fish, and that is that. The colonel sent his Kazaks to the fisherman. They took a short cut back,
so the fish wouldn’t spoil. It was a bad place there, and evil place. Tuned out all right, though. At the edge of the village lived a widow. Had a reputation as the best cook on Don. The Kazaks delivered the catch to her. The fish turned out great. Who wouldn’t taste a bite? The fish turned out to be really magical! Maria Nefedovna gave birth to a daugther… …of such beauty, that the colonel forgot… …he was hoping for an her. Nobody remembered what the fortune teller said. The widow cook also gave birth, only to a boy. Even the cat that ate fish bones gave
birth to an exceptionally great kitten. The colonel and his wife doted on
their daughter Lisaveta Alekseevna. All around her are nannies and governesses. The best teachers teach her manners,
music, dance, and og course French. That’s the way of the nobility. And she become a beauty. The widow apprenticed her sun Styopka
to her cousin the blacksmith. The boy was smart. Really took to the trade. Soon became a blacksmith himself… …and took the cat as his assistant. One day the colonel’s daughter
saw the handsome blacksmith… …and fell in love with him. A young count courted her and got turned down. And a foreign baron got turned away. The blacksmith was the only
one she was dreaming anout. Then there was Lisa’s birthday. And what do you know: …the third suitor showed up! The demons took their revenge for the empty suit… …on the entire village. The morning came, but it was
still darker then midnight. So, the colonel gathered all the
villagers on the account cataclysm. And that moment general Kuropatkin
arrived for a regional inspection. And decided to stop bye our village. – What is going on here: Aleksey Chrisantovich? – A britght day everywhere
and you got blackest night? – Well, the demons probably stole all the light. – Demons, or not demons, there has to be order. – My brohters, any who will battls
this blight and return heavnely. He will receive the award
and my daughter in marriage. – Well. I’ll give it a shot. Is the girl worth it? – Here is my Lisanka. – She’ll do. – All right. Give me some water. – No. I need more then that. – Who is ruining our bridge? – It’s me blacksmith. Give back the lights
or I’ll break you and your bridge! – No. Let’s fight! – Okay! You’ll be fire and I’ll be water. – We’ll see who wins! – Who is bothering my bridge?! – Me, the blacksmith.
Give back the stars right now! – I’ll show you… – Chill! There was one hot already… – Better you turn into a stone and rolldown hill. – It I fall down: you win.
If not: give back the stars! – Who is breaking my bridge?! – The blacksmith! I came for he Sun. Give it back! – I will not! Let’s fight! – Are you crazy? I’ve already
dealt with two of your number. – Better we see who can whistle the loudset. – You are a good whistler. It’s my turn! – Only you’d close your eyes.
Or they’ll jump out of your head. – Here is my whistle! – And here is another one! – Ouch! where did you learn to whistle like that? – Just life! Everything is better with the Sun. Good job, blacksmith! – Hero! Great hero! – Son-in-law! – Stepushka! What a wedding that was! Gests came from up and down Don River. Even general Kuropatkin showed up. – Kiss the bride! Stepan’s mother was there, of course. And her cousin the old. And princes and counts. And ordinary citizens. Everybody was there. The grandfater of my grandfater was there too. Drank all the honey and ale, and left none for me. Stepan and Lisaveta lived happily
ever after, to everybody’s delight. They hired demon to maintain order. Sometimes even the hell spawn
are handy to scare some people.