Production of Soyuzmultfilm studio 1956
The Wondrous Well (based on a Russian folk tale)
Written by N. Abramov, lyrics by L. Zubkova, director V. Degtyaryov
Composer N. Budashkin Sound engineer B. Filchikov
Art directors V. Danilevich, V. Degtyaryov
Camera N. Grinberg, M. Kamenetskiy
Animators V Danilyevich, L. Zhdanov
Puppets & decor team led by R. Gurov: A. Durakov, L. Zhukova, N. Solntsev,
V. Kalashnikova, O. Masainov, P. Lesin, Z. Zaks, O. Znamenskaya, V. Kuranov
Narrator B. Chirkov, other voices: M. Korabelnikov, M. Vinogradova,
V. Shchyolokov, Ye. Denisova, Yu. Hrzhanovskiy, I.Pototskaya
Once upon a time there were two girls: Handigal and Lazigal.
Once upon a time there were two girls:
Handigal and Lazigal.
Handigal got up early
and got straight to work.
She had a lot to do:
heating up the stove,
cleaning the house,
kneading the dough,
and going for water to the well.
Meanwhile, Lazigal was still in bed,
stretching,
and turning from side to side.
It used to be, Handigal's stepmother would rise -
she was Lazigal's mother -
and before anything else, would see what her stepdaughter was doing.
Why are you working so slowly?
You're not my brood, yet I feed and clothe you! Well?
Handigal's stepmother was strict.
But with Lazigal, of course, she was kinder.
Why are not you sleeping, my dove?
Well, I'm not very sleepy.
Why are you not you eating?
Well, I'm not very hungry.
Well then, go to the window - count the flies.
Oh, I'm tired of that!
In the girls' yard lived a stupid puppy.
It was because of him that the whole story came about.
One day, Lazigal decided to tease him.
Here!
Take it!
Well, why aren't you taking it?
Hold it!
Give it back!
My, oh my!
Can you believe her misfortune:
she dropped the bucket into the well, but not through her own fault.
What would the stepmother say now?
What happened?
It was she who dropped the bucket.
If you dropped the bucket, then you must also retrieve it!
And don't let me see you again without that bucket!
The stepmother got very angry.
Step to it!
Step to it right now!
Climb into the well, climb!
What can you do?
It was terrible to climb into the well,
but the stepmother was even more terrible.
There was nothing for it, she had to get the bucket.
Poor Handigal!
Something will happen to her...
What miracle is this?
It is summer above, but winter here!
Where am I?
Where did I end up?
Handigal was cold, but there was nothing to be done.
She did not dare return without the bucket.
And so she went along the path
and met a hare.
Hello, little girl!
Why are you dressed like that?
Aren't you cold?
- I am. - Me too.
Oh!
I can't seem to peel off this bark.
It's really frozen.
Thank you!
So why have you come here?
I'm looking for my bucket.
Bucket.
Follow this path
until you reach
three pine trees.
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Handigal went on.
She went a little way further and met...
Who?
See for yourselves.
Hello, little girl!
Hello!
Why are you coughing?
I caught a cold.
The water froze, so I ate the snow.
Don't you know that you can't eat snow?
Here, take my handkerchief,
wrap it around your throat and run on home.
Thank you!
So why have you come here?
I'm looking for my bucket.
Follow this path.
When you get to the forest edge,
there you will find your bucket.
Thank you!
Handigal listened to the bear cub,
walked further and suddenly saw a house.
And in front of the house was Grandpa Frost himself.
Handigal became suddenly shy:
she didn't know what to say.
Hello!
Was it you who dropped the bucket into my well?
It was I, Frost Ivanovich.
Oh, I see that you know who I am.
And you're not scared?
I am, Frost Ivanovich.
Well, do not be afraid!
I'm a strict old man,
but fair.
Stay with me until I return.
Look after my house.
And then, maybe, your bucket will be found.
The upper room I will quickly clean,
Quickly clean.
I'll make sure there's no dust to be seen,
To be seen.
This house will be clean and bright at last,
Bright at last,
Soon the dusty table will shine like glass,
Shine like glass,
From this hut I'll clean out all the ash,
All the ash.
Wash the floors and dishes in a flash,
In a flash.
I don't fear work - you need only ask,
Only ask.
I won't sit for a minute with no task,
With no task.
Tra-ta-teen, tra-ta-teen. This house will be nice and clean!
Not due to the sun was the room alight.
In the fierce cold, summer blossomed bright.
Oh, Handigal sure is not a lazy soul,
And this makes us feel like things are going right.
Tra-ta-teen, tra-ta-teen. This house will be nice and clean!
*Trink-plink*, balalaika, Come on, let that music fly, hah!
Let us all be merry, Spin in dances airy.
You, accordion, sing brightly - make our feet keep dancing lightly.
To its melody, my friends, We will do the squatting dance.
Tra-ta-teen, tra-ta-teen. This house will be nice and clean!
In our little house, dust was everywhere.
We lived quietly in our house there.
Oh, Handigal sure is not a lazy soul,
We will sing and dance for this girl most fair.
Tra-ta-teen, tra-ta-teen. This house will be nice and clean!
Handigal had completely forgotten about the owner of the house,
but now, he returned.
Welcome, Frost Ivanovich!
Thank you,
you've comforted an old man!
And here is your bucket.
Oh!
And here's something else for you.
Oh!
And now, ask me for whatever you want.
Please make it so that
it will become warmer in the forest.
So that the birds and animals
won't be so cold.
Eh, have it your way!
I will make it so that
it will be warmer in the forest.
Handigal had taken a long time to reach Frost's home,
but she found herself in her own yard so suddenly, she never knew what happened.
She looked around, and saw her stepmother and Lazigal
already running to meet her.
They did not expect to see Handigal looking so pretty.
Tell me at once,
where did you get all of that?
The stepmother was envious of Handigal,
and decided to send out her own daughter to get gifts.
Don't be afraid!
Be sure to take a lot.
Grab many precious stones.
You didn't even know what to take! But I'll do a better job!
Oh! I'm scared!
Oh!
And so, Lazigal ended up in the same forest.
And just then, that hare we know from before showed up.
Girl,
tear off a piece of bark for me!
I can't reach it.
What of it? If you want it, reach it yourself.
Better you tell me, where is my bucket?
So that's how you are...
Walk along the path
until you reach the three pine trees.
Well, who did Lazigal now meet?
The bear cub? There he is.
Hello, little girl!
Give me your handkerchief to tie around my throat.
I caught a cold.
Ha, aren't you needy!
As if I'd give you my handkerchief, clumsy bear!
I'm hurrying to Grandpa Frost for gifts.
Where can I find him?
Walk along the path
to the edge of the forest.
There you will find Grandpa Frost.
Hello!
Hello, little girl!
Tell me, what do you need?
I dropped my bucket into the well
and came to you for gifts.
Well, now: if you want to receive gifts -
first go to my home,
and look after it.
It's cold.
What freaks!
My sister sure was a ninny to volunteer for work!
The old man is kind.
He will give me presents anyway.
Why didn't you get the fire going in the stove?
But there's no firewood. Bring me firewood, first.
There was nothing to be done:
the old man had to
go get firewood and get the fire going in the stove.
Well, do you know how to bake bread?
No.
My coat's been torn.
Maybe you could fix it.
This kind of work will only spoil my hands!
Why have you come, then?
For gifts.
Well, all right, I'll reward you.
And what else do you want?
Gold and diamonds!
Choose whatever you like.
That one over there - the biggest.
You forgot your bucket.
Oh, get lost!
That's right, it was an expensive gift.
But what's going on there?
Is it just ice?
Yes, it's melting.
And so, Lazigal was left with nothing.
Here the fairy tale ends.
And now, you can try and guess
what is true here, and what is false;
which parts were there to entertain, and which parts were there to enlighten.
THE END (translated by Niffiwan, Dec 2022)