Wish upon a Pike (1938)
Adapted from four different Russian folk-tales, this early Soviet fantasy film tells the story of Emelya the Fool, who, fishing one day, catches a talking pike who pleads for his life and in return grants Emelya wishes for a life spared.
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Good story, Not enough for a whole film
The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.
The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.
A wonderful example of prewar Soviet cinematography has been recently released on DVD in Russia. The story is based on a well known folk tale about a magical pike. The movie uses details from other fairy tales to add the flavor. The digital restoration makes this beautiful black and white movie enjoyable to watch. Acting is very spirited, yet do not expect modern "professional" acting nor 21-st century digital effects. Have your imagination run wild watching the magically propelled wood stove.Unfortunately, the DVD has only original Russian track. Neither translation nor subtitles are available.