Russian Winter Festival
Russian Winter Festival
"Winter is the occasion for joyous celebrations and the entertainment of foreign visitors with symphony orchestra concerts; Bolshoi Ballet performances; dance groups from the various republics at the Palace of Congress (including fine performers from the far north); a tug of war in which the Soviets and their visitors take part; dance around the Yule tree--indoors and outdoors; traditional party for children; and finally the Troika." Music, dance, culture.
Russian Winter Festival
Opening Credits. CUs of snow clinging to barren branches, dead of winter. Low angle tight LSs, belly of airplane and base of oddly shaped communications tower (nifty shots, using a wide panoramic lens). MS/CUs of Russian folks in winter gear walking along city streets; great ECU of a woman's sunglasses, the city reflected in them. MS of a guy poorly disguised as Santa Claus talking to a police officer in the street. MSs of cold people waiting to buy fir trees from a lot (it's Christmas / X-Mas time); great CUs of people trying to stay warm while standing in line, tapping their feet, blowing into their palms, etc. CUs of handcrafted merchandise for sale in stores: toys, vases, cups and so on.
Russian Winter Festival
MSs of men and women in colorful folk clothing dancing on a stage. An energetic dance ensemble, part ballet and part national folk. Cut to EST shots of the Bolshoi Theater, then to INT shots during an opera performance. Cut to keyhole MS of a conductor leading an orchestra through a Pushkin piece; TLS of the orchestra as a young prodigy solos on violin (an exceptional talent, this young man). As we hear the solo, cut to nighttime parade as Santa Claus and festive floats travel through the streets. Great CU's of the audience, in furry hats and shivering from the cold, smiling nonetheless.
Russian Winter Festival
Winter-themed circus montage: LSs of snowmen and Santa Claus (on horseback) entering the big top; MSs of insane acrobats; adorable MS of a little girl skipping rope with a bear cub; weird MS of a ring toss, an adult bear the target; jugglers, clowns, bicyclists, acrobatic dogs, and the usual suspects. MSs of a magician running through his schtick (has more assistants than magic tricks, but his levitation act is first rate).
Russian Winter Festival
CUs of marionettes and puppets in repose, perhaps for sale (a museum?). MS/CUs of a puppet show based on the worldly exploits of Don Juan; good behind the scenes shots, the puppeteers at work. Cut to MSs of famous puppeteer SERGEI BASTOV working on his new production, about Russian sports; good shots of him putting finishing touches on two hockey players puppets. Cut to hockey montage, the CCCP National Squad taking on the NHL Superstar team; eventually gets intercut with MSs of two men in tights and hockey sticks doing AMAZING acrobatics against a red backdrop (is it violence or ballet? choreography or human nature? cool stuff).
Russian Winter Festival
CU of a woman taking a photograph on a cold city street. MS/CUs of folks in heavy winter gear walking in the city; good shots of their furry hats and boots, their pleasant faces (winter fashions). CU feet of of a polar bear feet, shuffling. CU of two polar bears. CU of a penguin. MS of a cute girl in leopard-print coat walking in the park with her mother. CU of a walrus, turning to the camera. Cut to MS/CUs of a Russian Polar Bear Club swimming in frigid winter water; reasonable adults in swimsuits jumpin into frozen waters.
Russian Winter Festival
Gypsy Theater. A young woman sings and dances on stage, a Band of Gypsys in the BG (guitarists, dancers and singers).
Russian Winter Festival
A theater ensemble in Moscow: MS's of dancers getting ready backstage (dressed as French aristocrats circa 18th cent). Great MS/LSs of their mechanized, seemingly legless performance. Cut to MS/CUs of a Moscow choir singing a New Year's hymn, carrying candles through a dim cathedral. CUs of chandeliers. Cut to New Year's Eve celebration montage: neon signs and lights glittering at night; large fir trees decorated, lit up; MS/CUs of people opening a bottle of champagne at a restaurant, toasting the New Year.
Russian Winter Festival
MSs disco lights. MS/CUs of a young professional dancing couple getting down to the latest in world disco, a reddish-orange backdrop behind them. He wears a tight black polyester outfit, she wears a long red dress. The pros are occasionally intercut with MS/LSs of amateur disco dancers shaking a collective booty in a discotheque (nightclub). Cut to MSs (some in silouette, others not) of a man doing a dance rouitine involving a baton, against a red backdrop; intercut are LSs of a rocket taking off.
Russian Winter Festival
Tchaivoksky's "Nutcracker" ballet. The Nutcracker. MSs of ballerinas & male dancers performing. Cut to CUs of classical artwork at a Leningrad museum (The Treasures of the Hermitage). Cut to EST shots of Leningrad, winter street scenes.
Russian Winter Festival
MS young woman taking a picture outside. LSs of people on horsedrawn carriages, going downhill on sleds, having a snowball fight, cooking and eating Russian pancakes, and folk dancing. Winter Wonderland. Fun in the snow. Cut to great MSs of Russian folk dancers performing on a stage (very lively, crazy); shots of folk instruments being played.