SHORT FILMS OF YURI NORSTEIN: TREASURES OF SOVIET

The short films of legendary Russian animator Yuri Norstein including his classic HEDGEHOG IN THE FOG and THE TALE OF TALES, newly restored THE 25TH, THE FIRST DAY - 1968, 9 min., co-dir. Arkadiy Tyurin. Yuri Norstein's first film is a visually striking tribute to the Bolshevik Revolution on October 25 SEASONS - 1969, 9 min. A man and woman ride through the forest while the seasons change around them in this lovely, elegiac short set to music by Tchaikovsky. CHILDREN AND MATCHES - 1969, 5 min. Norstein's rarely-seen educational short about the dangers of matches, from ancient times up to today. THE BATTLE OF KERZHENETS - 1971, 10 min., co-dir. Ivan Ivanov-Vano. Arguably Norstein's first great animated film, inspired by the legend of the City of Kitezh which disappeared into a lake to avoid Mongol invaders. THE FOX & THE HARE - 1973, 12 min. Norstein's utterly charming short about a temperamental "house-filching fox" who boots a poor rabbit out of its home. The rabbit turns to a wolf, bear, bull and rooster for help, with surprising results. THE HERON & THE CRANE - 1974, 10 min. An awkward crane and a high-spirited heron go back and forth on marrying each other, in this heartbreaking short about romantic misunderstandings. HEDGEHOG IN THE FOG - 1975, 11 min. The deceptively epic journey of the tiny hedgehog, filled with impossible marvels and dangers: a shimmering white horse and a crafty owl. A fluttering bat, a falling leaf and the ever-present curtain of fog. Widely considered one of the greatest animated films ever made. A DAY BEFORE OUR ERA - 1977, 6 min. Co-dir. Fyodor Khitruk. This experimental collage of images of the French Revolution was apparently abandoned before it was finished, and remains one of Norstein's rarest films. THE TALE OF TALES - 1979, 29 min. Norstein's longest film to date, TALE is a story about stories, a dream of many dreams. A giant bull and a little girl skip rope. Couples dance under a streetlight until the male partners disappear, headed off to war. And through it all, the Little Grey Wolf watches silently at the rondo of human loves and losses. Bonus Materials New restorations by Deaf Crocodile of all 9 of Norstein's short films First ever U.S. Blu-ray release for Norstein's short films Includes feature-length documentary MAKING THE OVERCOAT about Norstein's legendary, unfinished project 'The Overcoat' New commentary tracks by film scholar Michael Brooke New visual essay by film historian Evan Chester Blu-ray authoring by David Mackenzie of Fidelity In Motion Most complete release of Norstein's films ever put out on Blu-ray