Soyuzmultfilm
Based on the book 'The Primordial Rus' by Valentin Ivanov.
From ancient times we, Greeks, call these heros Rosses or Russes.
Their men are brave warriors.
During raids not many slaves can be captured from these Slavs,
because they choose freedom over death.
Zakharia Ritor. 5th century
Ratibor's Childhood
Director: Roman Davydov 1973
Sleep my baby, Ratibor, sleep well.
Lakes, like earth's eyes, are also sleeping.
Sleeping well.
Our river Ros, like the lakes, is also sleeping.
Sleeping well.
River Ros is sleeping so well.
Sleep, my little stream, little Ratibor.
The forests are sleeping, and they protect our towns like walls.
Good.
Aleyushka, it's for you. Mstislavushka is ill and needs help.
Dawn, you're two sisters. One in the morning and one in the evening.
Cure little Mstislav from the bad illness.
Give him dreams.
You, birth givers, our grandmothers - Svarog's grandchildren.
Observe that all comes true.
I know, my word is tough.
Tough, tough...
Grow big Ratibor.
Ratibor, walk cheerfully.
Grow up fast.
It's too early for him. He's already big. Right, Ratibor!?
Here's a horse for you.
Take the knife. Cut off the residue.
What's that?
The leg-sword we call a knife.
Yes, you can hide it in the boot.
That's good Ratibor. Now you know what pain is.
You won't cause it to others for no reason.
These are our forests.
Alive, like you and me.
The juice is going from the roots to the highest branch.
What's that?
That's the taste of your forest, Ratibor.
What's that?
That's the spirit of the forest. It's like that every spring.
And if you had missed?
No, Ratibor. I couldn't have missed it.
Keep the left hand firm.
Support it on the bone.
Bend the wrist straight.
That's good.
Shoot more.
You'll gather the arrows later.
You hear that, Ratibor?
That's the lark.
It arrives first.
Where and how it lives?
You mustn't hurt it.
We're calling it the 'soul of song'.
Eh you, scared all the fish.
Who is that?
That's Mstislav, the one who was ill in autumn.
His grandfather was fighting last summer.
He killed 5 nomads.
And the sixth killed him.
Death is not scary, Ratibor. But a life in slavery is.
- We dallied away time. - Let's go quick.
Sun God.
God of light and fertility.
Great Khors.
Your grandchildren have come to you.
Give them your warmth.
Send warm rain to them.
So that children of your children...
could live for peacefull labour.
Belyai is about to die on the field.
Everbody wants to die while doing holy things.
Go.
It's hard for the elders. They barely stand on their legs.
Strentgh is in the cleanliness. Who can equal him? Nobody.
And if the Khazars come?
Who will harvest?
Wheter they'll come or not,
but you plough and sow.
You have to believe in the better
and expect the life to go on.
Run Mstislav, run to our troops.
Tell the commander about our disaster.
Mstisha!
To the forest. Hide there.
We did it.
Good. Good.
Good work.
Living for the life - A Rossich always chooses freedom!
There is no death, Ratibor!
Our ancestors.
Grandmothers - birth givers.
Svarog, Dazhdbog.
Defend and protect.
We all will be in the sky, everybody in due time.
Now, Svarog - save your grandchildren!
Living for the life - A Rossich always chooses freedom!
There is no death, Ratibor!
People from towns near and far are coming on their own.
So that at the funeral they can recall their unity again.
The affection of our relations on earth
gives us the wish
to go on living even after death.
We'll meet.